During the month of February, we celebrate our spouses with Valentines, dates, roses, candy and any other way you like to celebrate. But I want to challenge each of us to celebrate our spouses every month not just on Valentine’s Day.
Today I have asked Patti to share her thoughts on a resource, 25 Ways to a Happier Marriage, with you and believe it will be a blessing.
People like to give advice on every subject. Marriage is no exception. But it is good for us to listen and heed some wise advice.
I remember when we were about to get married, my grandfather boldly told us he was going to give us one piece of marriage advice.
Because of who my grandfather was and because of his experience as a successful married man, we listened.
My grandfather had been married to my grandmother for 48 years before she passed. He remarried a sweet lady after a while and loved and cared for her deeply until she passed. Again, he remarried now as a twice-widowed man. He enjoyed a few years with her and he passed. I remember her crying quietly at his service because she had been deeply loved and loved well by my grandfather.
His advice? Never go to bed angry. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:26-27 26 “In your anger do not sin, Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 and do not give the devil a foothold.”
We took that advice because it was Truth and it works and it came from a man that had successfully taken care of three marriages until death.
There is another little work of marriage advice that I came across recently and it is simple and it is truth and it works to strengthen and add joy to marriage.
25 Ways to a Happier Marriage by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 11, Learn How to Count Your Blessings Together: “They offered more grace to others and did more loving things for people. Those who were grateful simply enjoyed a higher quality of life.” (pg. 63)
When gratitude is expressed together, it multiples and swings back around. All of a sudden, the clouds of despair of problems can be dealt with together, the lonely times of going it alone now provides a partner to walk with, a shoulder to cry on and a solution partner to celebrate with. You are looking at problems through the lenses of blessings discovered together.
It is always better to cross a road, jump a puddle or climb a ladder when holding another’s hand. So, it is with counting your blessings…together.
This book provides nothing profound, nothing earth-shattering, nothing really new, but it does provide the simple, well thought out, and tried and found true steps to add to the journey of marriage.
Read it together. Put it into practice and discover that there are indeed ways to an even happier and joyful marriage.
Discover more insights and resources from their website lesandleslie.com.
– Patti
I pray you will make your marriage a priority over ministry and cherish it. We are here to walk with you on this journey!
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