You may be thinking, “Playing what for?” So, allow me to ask the question a bit differently. Who are you living for? Now in this “enlightened” age, I might get a variety of answers – “I live for my kids or my grandkids;” “I live to hear the approval and applause from others;” or “I…
DetailsI recently had a discussion in my university Marriage and Family class regarding finances, which is often seen as a major source of marital conflict. The discussion centered around debt and financial priorities. It was interesting to hear what various students would go into debt for. The list ranged from houses and cars to televisions…
DetailsWhile great hope and promise accompanies most births, not every child is given the same set of advantages. Those differences may be in the area of the family’s financial situation, whether the child is born into a one or two parent household, the support (or lack thereof) of a strong extended family, and so on.…
DetailsEarlier this week I had the privilege of being interviewed by a radio station in Ohio. As we discussed the challenges of marriage, we began to explore the details of relationships that have “gone cold.” These may be couples who have not given needed attention to their relationship, resulting in a staleness or complacency. On…
DetailsYou find yourself in one of those discussions again that just doesn’t feel good. A disagreement has arisen with your spouse and you are trying to work through it. But something is eating at you. You find yourself irritated and you are not sure why. You feel as though you are being condescended to; almost…
DetailsWe have all experienced those times when we have walked into the room and our spouse has “that look.” I have heard it called the “evil eye,” or the “stink eye”, but regardless of what you call it – we all know the look. We used to get it from our parents. We didn’t like…
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We all have times when conversation flows pretty easily, as well as other occasions when communication can be strained. Then there are those times when it is downright difficult. So, what can you do to jump start your conversations with your mate? I want to suggest 4 strategies today to help reinvigorate your communication. 1)…
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Remember when you were dating your future spouse and you seemed to agree on everything? You wanted two children and so did he. You both liked Italian food, wanted to travel, enjoyed hiking, and had the same spiritual goals. Nothing could be better. However, once you got married, you discovered that you weren’t quite as…
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“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” That is a phrase that many of us have used tongue in cheek. But I wonder what really is your story? We all have a narrative that we tell ourselves. Your story reflects your personal sense of self. Some of your story is rooted in a solid…
Details“The stories we love are filled with struggle, conflict, and failure, yet so often the stories we present to others are a highlight reel of accomplishments, perfect meals, and sunny days.” – Brian Bailey. As I reflect upon this quote, I realize the many ways that we see the truth of his statement. Think about…
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