When it comes to dealing with conflict in marriage, the question is not if you will have conflict but when you will have conflict. After the "I do," conflict is a necessary part of even healthy marriages because no two people will ever agree on everything. However, many couples begin to "undo" the "I do" because they misinterpret Proverbs 20:3 and make the colossal mistake of … [Read more...]
5 Suggestions that will Make Disagreements in Your Marriage A Lot Less Uncomfortable
Sometimes having a disagreement with your spouse is awkward. There’s hurt feelings and emotions are high. Things are said out of anger causing even more confusion and misunderstandings. Arguing is stressful, sometimes consuming our minds and altering our character. I am pretty sure it isn’t in alignment with the goals most couples establish for their relationship. However, … [Read more...]
Can God Change the Heart of an Abusive Husband?
Dear Dr. Buckingham, I've just read your article about restoring trust. I am currently separated from my husband for the second time. We've been married for 3 years and in January of 2014 he almost killed me by strangulation. In July of 2014, we attempted to reconcile. However, truthfully there were no boundaries set prior to him coming back home. The weekend leading up to … [Read more...]
3 Things that Will Help You and Your Spouse Fight Fair
One of the biggest problems Tanya and I had when we first got married was learning how to fight fair. Our first two years of marriage was very reminiscent of Jody and Yvette in "Baby Boy" and I told Tee that we weren't bringing any kids into this world until we learned how to argue the "right way." Over the years, we've found numerous tips that have helped us to stay on point … [Read more...]
Have You Been Water or Gasoline in Your Marriage Conflicts?
Water vs. Gasoline is a term frequently used in my work. When asked what happens when you put gasoline on a fire, eyes usually get wide and the response is kind of like duh, the fire greatly increases. The follow up question to that one is what happens when you put water on a fire, and again the response comes with a common sense glare as everyone usually says in unison, "the … [Read more...]