James and Shirley Dobson commemorated this Valentine’s Day in a way that seems fitting for them—encouraging married couples and families to finish strong.
On Saturday at the Billy Graham Library, the Dobsons met dozens of couples and families they have mentored from a distance. They also signed copies of their books, Your Legacy: The Greatest Gift by Dr. Dobson and Welcome to Our Table by Shirley and Danae Dobson.
“We have been married for 54 years and have really enjoyed each other’s company. Valentine’s Day is a very special day for us, because we celebrate the love we have for one another,” explained Dr. Dobson.
“So being here—in this place, at this time—has meaning for us, because we did this together, and because we love this organization. Today is very special.”
This Valentine’s Day at the Library was also very special for others, like Shannon Fox and Jessica Guerry, who got engaged.
Fox popped the question at the end of the Library tour, as he got down on one knee in the short tunnel lined with illuminated cross-shaped openings.
“Because I want Christ to be at the center of our lives, I wanted to start off in the best possible way—literally and figuratively at the foot of the cross,” said Fox of the proposal to his girlfriend.
“The cross is the only way to go.”
It was also a memorable day for John and Ann Shortinghouse, who came with their daughter Stephanie Wright and their granddaughter, Savannah.
When Ann was a child, her father, a pastor, would occasionally entertain a traveling evangelist by the name of Jimmy Dobson and his wife, Myrtle—Dr. Dobson’s parents—in their home. With every new church Ann’s father pastored, he would invite the evangelist to come and hold a revival for several days.
When she reached the table where the Dobsons were seated to sign books, Ann introduced herself, gave a brief background and said to Dr. Dobson, “You’ll never know how much your mom and dad meant to our family.”
Dr. Dobson replied, with a smile: “If they mean that much to you, then you mean a great deal to us.”
After this exchange, John went on to explain how the Dobsons helped them to raise their children in a Christian home.
“Dr. Dobson’s messages have always been very ‘real,’ very applicable to any situation you might have in your marriage or in parenthood,” he said. “We read so many of his books that we were able to pass on to Stephanie.”
The Shortinghouses passed on much more to their daughter than books—they instilled in her the importance of the Great Commission, and how it should shape a biblical understanding of parenting.
“More than anything, I want to see Christ’s love evident in Savannah’s heart,” said Stephanie of her daughter. “If I can teach her the importance of a relationship with Jesus, she will always have a place to go.”
Dr. Dobson could not agree more: “We are to win as many people as possible to Christ. And I think that begins with our children. As parents, our first priority is to pass along the message of salvation.
“There is nothing in life that competes with its significance. The Great Commission begins with family.”
