If you have a safe deposit box at a bank, you know that you need two keys to open it to get to your valuables inside.  The bank holds one key and you hold the other.  In the same way, in a marriage, a husband and a wife each hold a key to a good relationship.  Both need to come together, work together, struggle together, and dream together to unlock the priceless treasures of a happy marriage.  When you do these...

I was having some problems with my TV. The cable technician told me I just needed to reboot the box to clear the line.  Guess what? It worked!  Well, if you’ve been married for any length of time, you’ve probably been hurt by your spouse. If hurts aren’t dealt with and truly forgiven, bitterness can harden your heart to the point where you just don’t like your mate anymore.  Past hurts and disappointments tend to...

After many years of marriage, I’ve learned the importance of these 5 C’s. The first C is combine. When a man and woman get married, the “two become one flesh.” Always remember that you are on the same team. The second C is commit. A husband and wife must commit to make their marriage a top priority. Third, confess. If you’ve wronged your spouse, be quick to admit it and ask for forgiveness. Fourth, change. Change...

When you think of marriage rules, you think of the ones you should keep.  Be loving. . .be faithful. . .be honest.  But, here are some marriage rules you should break.  First, be 100 percent yourself.  Yes, you want your spouse to accept you completely for who you are.  But, on those days when the “real” you feels grumpy, irritated and out of sorts, try not to dump on your spouse.  Second, do everything together. ...

Susan and I have been married 24 years. After so many years, you’d think we would have smooth sailing in our relationship all the time, right? Well, not really. We still argue. And, more often than not, it’s usually about the same two or three things…like my sometimes critical spirit towards Susan.  So, what can be done about the same old marriage fights? First, identify the root cause of the problem. Once you and...

You want it to last for life. But you see so many things that need to change in your spouse.  Well, maybe, just maybe, you’ve also contributed to putting your relationship on a dangerous road.  Here are 12 things that can cause marriage failure.  First, you work more on your wedding than on your marriage. You spend hundreds of hours planning for your wedding, but choose not to spend time planning for a growing...

Questions are coffee for our minds. Questions stimulate us. Questions get us thinking, challenge us, and convict us. And while I know you and your spouse won’t ask yourselves these 9 questions every day, I hope they’ll inspire you in your marriage. Question 1, did we say, “I love you” and hug each other? Question 2, did we compliment more than we criticized one another? Question 3, did we listen to each other more...