Recently, my wife, Susan and I had one of those conflicts where we started talking about one thing, but ended up listing everything that we sometimes find irritating about each other.  All of it could have been avoided if we just remembered some important facts. First, we are equal opportunity agitators.  We both do things that annoy each other, and we need to step back and look at ourselves first. Second, it’s...

That may sound strange, but last month when my wife had yet another serious heart surgery, I struggled to trust God more than I thought I would…and even more than Susan did.  My lack of trust came in part from my own helplessness…not being in control. She was in the hands of a surgeon who doesn’t know or love her like I do. But control is a bit of a myth…there are so many things I cannot control in life.  Sure, I...

I can tell you firsthand that there are two things husbands really want: respect and adoration.  So if you want to love your husband well, then adore him well. Here are some ways to help you get started.  First, adore him as he is.  Don’t wait until he’s nicer, more patient, or making more money.  It’s important to lay a foundation and adore him right now for who he is.  Second, adore him for what he...

Mark Twain once said that “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” Well, the bad news over the years about the institution of marriage has been exaggerated as well. In her book, The Good News About Marriage, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn presents groundbreaking research that reveals the shocking and incredibly inspiring truth. Her research shows first that the actual divorce rate has never...

When our expectations for our wives become unreasonable, we are really setting our marriages up to falter and perhaps even fail. Here are some unfair expectations husbands should avoid. First, that she always needs you to fix it. Just because Susan tells me about a challenge doesn’t mean she wants me to fix it. She usually knows how to fix something and just wants me to listen to her. Second, you should not just...

We all want our marriages to get even better. But improvement only comes when we are intentional with our words and actions with our spouse. To become more intentional, here’s a simple checklist of things to do for your wife each year.  First, take a trip alone with her.  Spending time together away from the world is the perfect way to reconnect.  Second, make a big deal about her birthday.  Instead of just...

In the movie, Mom’s Night Out, it shows us how we can get so caught up in the do’s and don’ts of parenting, that we forget what it means to simply love our kids well.  So if you’re ready to get back to the basics, let me start by asking you a question... When was the last time you sat on the floor and played with your child?  At its core, parenting well means getting on your child’s level—whether it’s painting...