Marriage Education

The Story of the Trees

The image of the two trees is the cover art for the 1966 work Premarital Counseling by Aaron L. Rutledge, Sylvia’s father. He wished for the trees to represent two strong individuals, growing upward to create a shared canopy. The canopy, like the synergy of marriage, protects the two in the storms of life. Likewise, it creates space for growth for the two and for those they love. Individuals are intertwined but individuality is not lost.

Aaron Rutledge and Stella Woodard were married January 20, 1938. Together, in their 51 years of marriage, they went to college, lived through the separation of World War II, attended graduate school, raised four children, saw ups and downs in his professional career, and grew a marriage. The essential ingredient in their marriage was what they called “nearness.” His work in marriage counseling and their personal relationship reflected that value.

Aaron and Stella were raised in traditional patriarchal families. They could not and did not want to fit that mold. Rather, they helped personally and professionally to pioneer a style of marriage that honored the contributions of both partners. When Aaron died, Stella insisted that the image of the trees be engraved on their headstone. Below the trees, she boldly proclaimed Friends and Lovers.

Aaron often talked about the power of the ripple effect—good begetting good. He hoped that the authenticity of their lives and their marriage created that ripple effect for their children and for others. Their lives taught us the importance of caring for our marriage and passing the love along to others. It is this heritage that informs our choice of marriage enrichment as our lifetime couple vocation.