Premarital Counseling

Sep 27 2016

Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 7

Photo Credit: Captured Heart via Compfight cc

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Ahhh, 1 Corinthians 13! The eternal wedding passage. I’m pretty sure that this passage was read at our wedding twenty-five years ago. And I’ve heard the passage read at countless weddings since then. The reaction is always the same. Heads nod. People say “amen” in assent. Everyone listens with hopeful expectation that the blissful couple will enjoy the truth of these verses. [Read more…] about Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 7

Sep 26 2016

Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 6

Photo Credit: elviskennedy via Compfight cc

“His disciples said, ‘Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!’” ~ John 16:29

When Doris and I first got married, we thought the communication in our relationship was pretty good. We had dated for years, and like many young couples in love, we had spent countless hours talking to one another. Yes, we even did the falling asleep on the telephone thing! Countless conversations about myriad things. Being good communicators once we were married would be a snap, or so we thought. [Read more…] about Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 6

Sep 23 2016

Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 5

Photo Credit: Don Voaklander via Compfight cc

Learning to communicate in marriage means learning to listen. It isn’t just enough to hear the words that are coming from your spouse’s lips, but you’ve got to listen with a heart to hear what is truly being said. This doesn’t come naturally, but we can learn how if we desire. [Read more…] about Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 5

Sep 22 2016

Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 4

Photo Credit: sf.pictures via Compfight cc

After the rocky period at the start of our marriage, we were introduced to a small book that changed everything for us. Sounds like hyperbole I know, but it was an important read. We read a book on communication. [Read more…] about Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 4

Sep 20 2016

Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 2

One of the first things that I learned when I got married was just how selfish both my wife and I were. Selfishness isn’t a trait that most people would attribute to themselves, but it is one that quickly makes itself evident. One of the things that my wife and I now say to one another, regarding selfishness, is “self-preservation is the first law of man.” We are hardwired to look out for ourselves first. This dialed-in self-preservation does, however, become an issue in marriage. [Read more…] about Things I’ve Learned in Twenty-Five Years of Marriage – Part 2