My wife, Susan and I have been so happy to see friends who have had long-lasting marriages but have been saddened as well by marriages that seemed great but came to a shocking end. In a marriage failure, there are usually one or more marriage killers that are constantly present. For example, one marriage killer is comparison. One spouse might often say things like, “Why can’t you be more like her?” Or, “Why can’t...

You need to be accepted by your spouse, warts and all, just as you are. But not every change your spouse desires is an attack on you or your personality. So, instead of just ignoring them or bowing up to them, start by asking…  “On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being really, really important to you, how important is it to you that I change this action or behavior?” Then, focus on those 8’s, 9’s and 10’s…and put the...

Well, maybe you’re not saying what he wants to hear.  What your husband craves are words of praise and validation from the most important person in his life.  There are 10 things your husband wants to hear from you.  Number one… “I love being your wife.”  Number two… “You’re an outstanding father.”  Three… “I’m really attracted to you.  You are the Man!”  Four… “I really respect the decision you made.”  For the...

When married couples are exposed to the heavy, pounding winds of life—sickness, losing a job, affairs, addictions—weaknesses in their relationship are exposed.  But struggles don’t always have to rip apart a marriage.  Here are 7 steps to survive a marriage crisis.  First, take turns being strong.  In the midst of a crisis, emotions are sure to run high.  Finding a way to tag-team allows one of you to be weak,...

  Once you got married, you thought you’d never feel lonely again. You had high hopes that your spouse would be the lifelong companion who saved you from loneliness.  But over time, you unintentionally disconnected from one another. Now that loneliness has crept in. How do you deal with it? Here are 3 ways to reconnect.  First, forgive past hurts.  This means knocking down the walls of bitterness between you and...

Men want to know they’re respected, trusted, courageous, and that they’ve got what it takes. And they need to hear it from you. So here are 10 things husbands want to hear from their wives. Number 1, “I’m always on your team.”  Number 2, “I wouldn’t want to be on this journey with anyone else.” Number 3, “I don’t’ say it enough, but you are a good man and a good husband.” Number 4, “I don’t understand, but I know...

Before you say "I do," you need to make sure you know your potential mate well. You can probably learn a great deal about them just by noting how they live their life. But whether it's by observing or by discussing, you want to make sure you have a clear picture of their character, their lifestyle and their expectations. Here are some questions to get you started. The answers can help you determine in what areas...