We’ve heard it time and time again - communication is the key to a good marriage. And while communication may not be the only component to a long lasting holy matrimony, it’s definitely one of the main pillars. I know as the husband, my opinion matters in our household. It matters mostly because my wife has an open ear for most of my issues. I also know my wife works very … [Read more...]
Do You Trust Your Mate? 5 Ways to Assess Your Trust Level
Trust is an essential part of any relationship. It is vital to a marriage. You can’t have a business relationship without trust... how much more is this true in a marriage. Words like faith, belief, confidence, loyalty, and devotion come to mind when you think of synonyms for trust. All these words stir up feelings of security, safety, and a tight bond within the marriage … [Read more...]
Learn to Say These 2 Words and Heal Your Marriage
Words are powerful. They can make or break a relationship. For some people, it's really difficult to tell their significant other “I love you,” or “I’m sorry,” or even “I was wrong.” But, I'm not writing about those phrases today. In my experiences of ministering to women and couples, I've found some of the hardest words for spouse's to say to each other are "I'm … [Read more...]
3 Things You Should Always Tell Your Wife
When it comes to relationships a lot of us men could use some help in knowing how to make things better. We don’t always understand women (if ever for some) but we have to learn the things we can improve upon when we are in or want to be in a relationship, and especially a marriage. What they feel should be common sense to us, sometimes eludes our minds. So to try to help … [Read more...]
To Stay or To Leave Him? That Is The Question
Let’s call her Tara. Tara emailed me in response to an article I wrote entitled, 3 Keys to Rebuilding Trust After It’s Been Broken. Her man broke her trust (she didn’t go into details). She’s upset because he’s trying to make her hurry up and ‘get over it’. She also suspects he will get tired of the uphill climb out the doghouse and will just move on to the next one. She is … [Read more...]
Another Blended Family Love Story: How My Husband Became “Daddy”
Recently, I wrote an article about my Father before he became my Daddy, where I shared my experience growing up in a blended family home. Now, I am going to share my experience as a parent allowing my spouse to raise my child. My family knew my husband’s family from church many years before we got together. My sister teased me about my him becoming my husband even before we … [Read more...]
3 Keys to Rebuilding Trust After It’s Been Broken
In order for Steven to rebuild her trust, there must have been trust to begin with. But he done messed up! Now he’s trying to figure out how to rebuild trust. Steven was supposed to be at happy hour with some co-workers (plural)….so he told his fiancé, Tracey. But half the truth is a lie; he was at happy hour with a coworker (singular)…in a two seater…in the corner…hugged … [Read more...]
Four Ways Your Marriage is a Ministry
Ministry: The act of serving, ministration. I don’t know if you realize it, but you do serve in your marriage, therefore it is a ministry. You may ask yourself how your marriage is a ministry if you and/or your spouse are not ministers. You don’t have to be. The fact that your marriage is an act of service makes it a ministry. The definition clearly states that ministry is the … [Read more...]
5 Ways I Know My Husband Trusts Me
A spouse’s trust is sacred and should never be taken for granted. It takes time to develop genuine trust between a husband and wife because we all bring baggage from our childhoods or former relationships that can interfere with our ability to trust each other. This January, my husband and I will celebrate 17 years of marriage. Over half of those were spent learning how to … [Read more...]
Are you Still Waiting to Exhale?
by Shannon Y. Tanner The movie was written over 15 years ago and yet, so many of us are still "Waiting to Exhale!" A lesson in love and trust. A couple years ago, I fell in love with a beautiful sun dress in the window of an upscale boutique in Beverly Hills. I would drive by often and just stare in the window at my fantasy dress. My husband knew I wanted … [Read more...]
“Surviving” The First Year Of Marriage
by Latoya Irving Now the honeymoon is over. Some of you are discovering each other's bad habits, wondering if you made a mistake. Don't fret - some of those feelings are normal. Here are some tips to help you survive the first year of marriage: 1. Pray, pray, pray. If you have never needed prayer before, you are going to need it now! Pray for each other, but most … [Read more...]
We're Married, Not Dead
This past week as I watched an episode of the TV show "The Game," I had a truly random thought. As the actor Pooch Hall, who plays Derwin on the show, graced the screen I almost blurted out, "Damn, he's fine." In that same instance, I quickly came to my senses and realized how inappropriate that would have been to say out loud. Although my husband wasn't present as I watched … [Read more...]
Affairs Don’t “Just Happen”
It just happened. We didn't mean to fall in love with each other. One thing led to another and before I knew it, we were in bed together. I tried to stop the phone calls and text messages, but I couldn't. It really was innocent. We started off as friends. It's not like I intended to cheat on you. It just happened. I know every marriage is different, and you might have a … [Read more...]