Love Languages

John and I have been married for 26 years. It hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve learned a lot of things a long the way. We believe the heart of a great marriage is learning that love is an action. It’s a choice we have to make daily. Through a series of short blogs, I will share lessons that we’ve learned that have helped us choose to love. We hope that you will find some ideas that you can put into action that will help strengthen your marriage!

My first suggestion is something that has helped John and I be better partners and even better parents. Learn each other’s “love language”. Gary Chapman has written a book called The Five Love Languages. I’d highly recommend it to everyone! It helps you understand how you and your spouse tend to receive and give love. Once I understood that we each prefer to give and receive love differently, it was much easier for me to see when my husband was trying to give me love and how I could best give him love in a way that he preferred. My love languages are words of affirmation and acts of service. My husband’s are physical touch and quality time. By understanding this, I can choose to love John by spending more time with him, holding hands, rubbing his back, and of course understand his need to feel loved through making love. John can choose to love me by telling me that he loves me, how much he appreciates me, how much he cares about me. He knows the way to my heart is through acts of service – helping around the house, preparing the meals, bringing me nutter butters […]

By |February 15th, 2014|Marriage|Comments Off

Two Are Better Than One

Love these verses… Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I’ve been struggling lately. I don’t like to complain, but instead try to find the best of every circumstance. The best in these circumstances has been my hubby, John. He has been my rock. I can’t imagine doing this thing called life without the love and support of such a loyal partner.

Life can be tough, but just as scripture tells us, two are better than one. When one is struggling, the other can carry us. When being attacked, two can defend. But wait, what’s this “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Three? These verses are about two, right? Why are we talking about a cord of three in the last sentence?

Sure there are two ‘physical’ people in this relationship, but what really gives us strength is that Jesus is at the center of our relationship. There are three of us! When I’m struggling, I tend to be a “Martha” and try hiding from God. John, on the other hand, has amazing faith and reminds me that it is precisely during these times I need to be on my knees and turning it over to God. It is during these times that I see John loving me like Jesus loves his bride. Unconditionally, not concerned about self, […]

By |February 1st, 2014|Marriage|Comments Off