I am an advocate for Godly friendships with the opposite sex, but I have also heard many arguments suggesting that Christian males and females cannot be friends. A majority of intimate relationships develop from a friendship, which shows the reason why they are necessary. But they are needed for more than just potentially meeting your spouse. They are also essential for … [Read more...]
3 Things Your Real Friends Want For Your Marriage that Your So-Called Friends Don’t
There is one thing all my friends have in common. They all want to see me win in life and they especially want to see me win in my marriage. They are rooting for my family. And they want this thing I have to last for a lifetime. Their desire to see my marriage last has nothing to do with how they feel about my husband either. Sure, some of them have known him for as long as … [Read more...]
Ughh, She’s Always Bragging About Her Relationship; 4 Reasons to Stop Hating!
No one likes a bragger. Even when our kids brag, we pull them to the side to explain why it’s not the best way to express excitement about something. It can be a hard concept for kids to get, but we expect better from adults. We expect adults to remain humble and spare us from all the talk about how amazing their life is. But is it possible that sometimes we are wrong? That … [Read more...]
Can Your Marriage Survive Without True Friendship?
Did you marry your best friend? I didn’t. I had a best friend before I met my husband. I’ve been friends with her since I was 9. She was my maid of honor and is still my best friend today. So no, I didn’t marry my best friend. But I did marry a friend—and not just any friend but a friend I have grown with for more than 20 years and who I’ve been married to for almost … [Read more...]
Singles: 6 Ridiculously Creative Ways to Meet “The One” in 2016
Happy New Year! Everyone is excited about the New Year. And one thing on the mind of most singles is meeting and connecting with their potential mate. Many singles are tired of going out because they run into the same people which makes the pickings very slim. However, it’s a new year and its time for a fresh start. The best way to find a fresh pool of potential candidates … [Read more...]
Being Mary Jane’s Ugly Truth Episode Challenges Us to Stop Lying About Relationships
When we meet, date and even marry, we really don’t know everything about the person next to us. We are often oblivious to the challenges they’ve faced, the hardships they’ve overcome and the difficulties they endure on a daily basis. If we were honest, we frequently ignore the outward signs of their inward pain and shame and move on with our day. Last night’s episode of … [Read more...]
4 Reasons Friendship is Important in Your Marriage
My husband and I have been married for 17 years and he still makes me laugh all the time. Sometimes I just look at him and shake my head because he is so crazy. We talk daily about everything and we know we have each other’s back. We regard each other as best friends and feel friendship is important in all marriages and below are four reasons why. [imagebrowser id=356] … [Read more...]
Why My Male Friends Aren’t Ruining My Marriage
“Sure, that’s fine with me. Have a good time,” is what my husband said to me after I asked if he was okay with me meeting up with an old male friend of mine for dinner. Jokingly I said, “You know, most men probably wouldn’t be okay with that.” To which he said, “I’m not most men. I’m me. And when I married you, I agreed to trust you unconditionally – that means in every … [Read more...]
The Truth about Why Your Wife Wants You to Go On Grown Man “Play-Dates”
Remember when Chris Rock did his bit in the “Never Scared” comedy special about how women always try to set their husbands up on “grown man play dates?” The audience roared with laughter as he went on about being stuck in a room with a man he didn’t know, simply because their wives said they both liked baseball. It's the kind of joke that was extra funny because so much of it … [Read more...]
Don’t Let Breakups Break You
I remember when I had a "growing pain" moment a few years ago. My dad came by the house to see how I was doing and it was hard for me to admit that I was in need. I needed gas money for the week and didn't really want to ask him for that, but eventually I told him about it. My dad told me: "I like it when you ask me to help you, you're my daughter." What he said resonated with … [Read more...]
What Phase Of Love Are You In?
by Mary Claremont Valentine's Day has come and gone. Some married men and women anticipated the holiday for weeks, looking forward to basking in the glow of love and sweet exchanges with their spouse. But, the truth is, many couples look forward to Valentine's Day with as much disdain as Friday the 13th. They go through the motions with no sense of love to celebrate. Any … [Read more...]
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff – Tomorrow Is Not Promised
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter This week has been a trying one for me. I lost a dear friend unexpectedly. While I still struggle with understanding why, my focus remains on her husband and young daughter. My friend was an entrepreneur and a bold and driven woman; she traveled, she truly lived and gave 110% to everything she did. At only 28 she dreamed big and followed each of … [Read more...]
The “Friend” Part of Marriage
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter One of the main ingredients in my marriage is friendship. I've found that being in love and possessing a true friendship with your spouse makes for a great relationship. Thinking of how we normally build our friendships, I wonder why more of us don't create marriages that include these same qualities. The relationships you have developed with your … [Read more...]