Don’t Ignore Problems in Marriage

In any marriage there are difficult times and often they can be worked through as we talk them out. But much as we might like to think we can handle any problems in our marriage and work them out on our own, sometimes we may need to admit that we need help. This blog was prompted by a comment posted in response to another blog. In Packed to the Rafters, an Aussie TV show very popular here at present the husband Dave, had this to say ‘men have a way of dealing with problems. They ignore them.’ There’s a certain … Continue reading

Make Time to be Intentional

Sometimes people can become those caught up in the busyness of life and work situations and doing things that they forget to be intentional about their marriage. What do I mean? All their intentional energy goes into other stuff like career, family or social activities and pleasure. They never take the time to stop long enough to make that time together to talk about their marriage and work though what is happening. They never stop long enough to ask, ’How is our marriage going? Is there anything that needs to be changed? Is there anything that is not working for … Continue reading

Timing is Everything

‘Become the change you want to see in the world.’ That quote from Gandhi is emblazoned cross the notice board of a high school around our way. It started me thinking that it sounds like good advice for marriage too. So if you want your spouse to be more thoughtful or understanding or sensitive to your needs, then maybe you need to demonstrate those qualities toward your spouse first. I’m talking to myself, as much as any of you reading here. If you want your spouse to listen to you, then you need to show them the courtesy of listening … Continue reading

TV and Marriage

Is TV affecting the state of our marriages today? This was a question Mick posed when we were watching a TV show recently. His comment was ‘maybe people see so much of this sort of thing on TV with so many marriages breaking up so easily or being abusive and negative situations that they think that’s what marriage is.’ It’s a fair comment. For example can you think of any current TV show that presents a happily married couple that is in a loving and stable long term marriage? Off hand I can’t think of one. Turn on practically any … Continue reading

Something You May Not Have Thought About

Today I’m going to talk about something you may not have thought about as affecting your marriage, but it is something I suspect a few of us are guilty of. I know I am. The issue is negative self talk. This was something that came up during marriage preparation classes for a young couple I know. When I talk about marriage preparation classes I’m not talking about those quick fix couple of hour’s courses that are supposed to give all the answers to how to prepare you for marriage or solve any problems in your marriage in one easy lesson. … Continue reading