| Marriage is a wonderful blessing, but it can be | | | | get caught up in the rat race and neglect our |
| very difficult at times. In this article, Sahmpower | | | | marriage, but there are major repercussions for |
| hopes to address four areas of a marriage that | | | | doing so. The marriage is the nucleus of the |
| can start you well on your way to a happier, | | | | family, and is like an anchor that holds the home |
| healthier relationship with your spouse. | | | | and it's surroundings steady. Many parents tend to |
| 1. Communication: | | | | put their kids before their marriage more often |
| It is no big secret to most people that | | | | than not. It takes a concerted effort from each |
| communication is the number one issue in a | | | | partner to place the marriage relationship as a |
| marriage. In the typical marriage, it is | | | | priority in family life. Children benefit greatly from |
| misunderstanding each other that causes most of | | | | a strong relationship between their parents. We |
| the problem rather than an actual issue. Often we | | | | model to them what marriage is and what it |
| make assumptions of what our partner wants or | | | | should be like. If the marriage relationship is not |
| thinks that is way off base, but we base our | | | | given the effort and attention required, life and |
| response or emotions on this assumption. For | | | | time can erode it until the husband and wife are |
| women, we might assume that our husband's | | | | left with nothing to build or grow on. |
| seeming disinterest means cheating, when it may | | | | 3. Revive Your Love Life: |
| just be that he is overworked and stressed out. | | | | For women, a hectic day with the kids is enough |
| For men, they may assume their wife's nagging | | | | to stifle any interest in a love life. For men, the |
| means they aren't performing well as a husband, | | | | same can be said for their harried work week. |
| when all she really wants is him to take out the | | | | But even if you are tired, give effort to facilitate |
| trash. We wives often expect our husbands to | | | | regular love making in your marriage. You will |
| know what we want, and husbands often avoid | | | | most likely find that although you didn't feel like it |
| making requests of their spouse or bringing up an | | | | before, you will surely reap the rewards for your |
| issue because they want to avoid conflict at all | | | | efforts. Rejecting your partner can cause great |
| costs. It may seem really simplistic to say, but if | | | | damage to your marriage, so give a little and get |
| want something from your partner, tell them! And | | | | a lot in return. Make an effort to assure regular |
| be willing to listen if you want to be heard. Wives | | | | lovemaking in your marriage, even if you have to |
| might be surprised how a husband will respond if | | | | schedule it. Not only will both of you be more |
| he knows what she wants. | | | | satisfied in your love life, but your relationship will |
| Conversely, a husband may be surprised how | | | | be much closer too! |
| quickly a wife will be to meet his requests if he is | | | | 4. Share: |
| open enough to tell her. One big mistake couples | | | | I've heard this statement many times," He has his |
| make is holding things in and not resolving the little | | | | money, and I have mine". But secret keeping and |
| issues until they have built up. This causes an | | | | separate banking accounts don't have a place in |
| unnecessary blowup that could have been avoided | | | | good marriages. If you had siblings when you |
| if dealt with when the problem was small. And | | | | were younger, one of the hardest lessons you |
| finally, let go of your resentment. If you are | | | | had to learn was "sharing". When you become |
| holding a grudge against your spouse, your are | | | | married, you are making a choice to share your |
| sowing a destructive seed in your marriage. You | | | | life with your spouse. Your life includes all that you |
| must accept your personal responsibility in the | | | | are and all that you have. The Bible says in |
| choices that you and your partner have made | | | | Matthew 6:21, "Where your treasure is, there |
| together. If you have chosen to forgive a past | | | | your heart is also" No matter what you believe, |
| wrong, then do so. If you chose marriage rather | | | | this truth applies very much to many areas of |
| than living out your dream, recognize that it was | | | | marriage. Money is one of the major issues that |
| your choice too, so don't resent your spouse for | | | | couples argue about, and the reason is that many |
| it. Where resentment will kill your marriage, | | | | people place it as a higher priority than nearly |
| forgiveness is the anecdote that will heal it. | | | | anything else. Although tough financial times can |
| 2. Make Your Marriage a Top Priority: | | | | be taxing on any marriage, they will never break |
| We are busy people with a lot of responsibilities. | | | | a marriage that has priority with both husband |
| We have work, kids, chores, bills, appointments, | | | | and wife. If you treasure your marriage, your |
| practices, and more to take up our time. But | | | | whole heart will be in it. |
| where does our marriage fit in? It is so easy to | | | | |