I’ve long observed the tendency of married women to commiserate with one another by sitting around and complaining about their husbands as though the men all have the same weaknesses and flaws. Whether this is done in a public venue like Facebook or a private venue like a quiet conversation in the hallway at church, I’ve come to believe … [Read more...] about Why Not to Complain About Husbands Like They Are All the Same
handling differences
The Sounds in a Home with a God-Honoring Aura (Part 1)
The sounds in a home contribute significantly to its aura—the overall quality it emits. As I discussed two weeks ago, I’m seeking to create a home that has a God-honoring aura. Voices are one of the predominant sounds in most homes. Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about communication. If we follow the principles set forth in … [Read more...] about The Sounds in a Home with a God-Honoring Aura (Part 1)
Embracing Quirks
Sometimes my husband comes into the kitchen as I finish preparing dinner. He’ll share a story or ask me a question as I line up our drinks and food to be transported to the table. I feel it’s pretty obvious at these times that I could use a hand transporting our dinner to the table, yet my husband exits the kitchen completely oblivious to my … [Read more...] about Embracing Quirks
Using Your Husband’s Love of Sports to Strengthen Your Marriage
My husband and I were out with friends at a baseball game a couple of weeks ago. Though we were focused more on conversation than the game, my husband always knew what was happening on the field. Occasionally he’d comment on plays or erupt in cheers. A similar thing happens when the topic of sports comes up in conversation. He knows what teams … [Read more...] about Using Your Husband’s Love of Sports to Strengthen Your Marriage
That It May Benefit Those Who Listen: The Harm of Doom and Gloom Advice
“Just you wait until…” I cringe when I hear those words. Why? The vast majority of the time they are followed by doom and gloom advice. Sometimes it’s the veteran wife to the newlywed: “Just you wait until you’ve been married for a few years. He’ll stop making romantic gestures and you’ll by annoyed by the quirks you think are cute now.” … [Read more...] about That It May Benefit Those Who Listen: The Harm of Doom and Gloom Advice
Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Welcome to the fourth installment of Christmas in July 2013. You can read about the purpose of Christmas in July here. Links to the previous posts in the series are located at the bottom of this post. Have you ever experienced frustration, embarrassment, or other unpleasant emotions because your family didn’t discuss or didn’t agree … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Alternative Gift Exchange Ideas
Awesome Things About In-Laws
In-laws are frequently the object of stereotypes and jokes that portray them in a negative light. The image of in-laws, especially mother-in-laws, as nosey, disapproving, and overbearing is so pervasive that it’s nearly impossible to find accounts of positive in-law relationships. I’m blessed to have very good relationships with my … [Read more...] about Awesome Things About In-Laws
Forming Positive Relationships with Difficult Neighbors
Last week I wrote a post about the declining sense of connectedness between neighbors in our nation and why we need to reverse this trend (read the post here). It is often easy to assert the benefits of connectedness and make recommendations for getting to know your neighbors when speaking of neighbors in a general sense. The subjective view … [Read more...] about Forming Positive Relationships with Difficult Neighbors
