7 Gifts to Give Your Spouse/Family Everyday

"Here are 7 gifts to give your spouse, your children, and others close to you every single day. They won’t affect your wallet and the results could be priceless".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/7-gifts-to-give-your-family-every-day

How One Southern Phrase Can Change Marriages Everywhere

"To my knowledge there is not a southern phrase to describe the opposite of acting ugly, but let’s pretend there is. We’ll call it acting beautiful".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/how-one-southern-phrase-can-change-marriages-everywhere/#.YbtqEGjMJPY

How Holidays Can Bring Fresh Perspective to Your Marriage

"For many people, the holiday season is hectic and fraught with too many obligations, and too little time to fulfill them all. But what if the holiday season was a time when you and your spouse could bring a fresh perspective to your marriage? We believe that’s possible, and in today’s post, we’ll share why".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/how-holidays-can-bring-fresh-perspective-to-your-marriage/

Roadblocks to Forgiveness in Relationships

"Forgiveness is not some theoretical concept that only some of us have to grapple with — it’s a real-life question that we will all face at some point or another, whether to forgive or to double-down on our indignation over being treated unfairly".....

https://loveandlifetoolbox.com/roadblocks-to-forgiveness-in-relationships/

3 Habits that are Stealing Your Memorable Moments

"Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays – our lives are sprinkled with special moments of celebration, joy, sentimentality, and love that we want to remember years down the road. The ironic thing is, it seems like the more we try to make them a picture-perfect memory, the less present we actually are in the moment. Have you experienced this?".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/3-habits-that-are-stealing-your-memorable-moments-how-to-reclaim-them/

The Big Lie that Leads to a Lonely Marriage

"Marriage, by its very definition, is the joining of two separate lives into one unified family. Two become one on a spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical level. God designed it this way. So, how is it that some people find themselves in a lonely marriage? It all begins with one or both partners believing a BIG lie".....

https://xomarriage.com/the-big-lie-that-leads-to-a-lonely-marriage/?

Stop Fighting with Your Spouse Over the Holidays

"So part of me occasionally turns Grinchy during the holidays. Where previously I bounded through gift lists and décor and gifts for teachers, now my heart’s an empty hole! And my husband, if I’m not careful, quickly becomes my roast beast. Wondering how to stop fighting over the holidays—and why it happens in the first place?".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/holidays/featured-holidays/christmas/stop-fighting-with-your-spouse-over-the-holidays/

3 Things Your Spouse is Not

"You’ve no doubt shopped for a card for your spouse and read something like, 'You light up my world. You’re my everything. You are my every dream come true.' It sounds sweet and I understand the intentions. But your wife is not your everything. Your husband isn’t your every dream come true. Spouses don’t always light up the world".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/3-things-your-spouse-is-not/

Avoid Holiday Overwhelm Together

"The holidays are here, and if you’re like many other couples, you and your spouse may be feeling a bit overwhelmed already. After all, this time of year gets incredibly busy. There are gifts to buy, meals to prepare, family to visit, and a host of other obligations on your to-do list. If you’re more apprehensive than excited about the weeks to come, you might need to take a fresh approach to celebrating this year".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/how-you-and-your-spouse-can-avoid-holiday-overwhelm-together/

Mixing Fear with Money and Marriage

"High school chemistry 'volcanos' are only a dim memory, but I do recall that when you combine a little bit of vinegar with baking soda, it creates a chemical reaction, bubbling up in a foamy mess and overflowing everywhere. Well, it turns out that dropping a little bit of fear into your marriage relationship around money does pretty much the same thing".....

https://shaunti.com/2021/11/mixing-fear-with-money-and-marriage/

Negative Thoughts: Agree To Disagree

"When we start agreeing with the statements Satan plants in our heads that is the opportunity that Satan is looking for to get us to agree and entertain the negative thoughts about our spouses, our marriages, our families and even ourselves"..... 

https://theblendedfamilymom.com/f/agree-to-disagree-1?_ga=2.115264583.1360340597.1638219310-1342794459.1638219309

A Busy Couple’s Guide to Prioritizing Their Marriage

"We must resist the temptation to put our spouse and marriage on the back burner while we tend to everyone and everything else. We can’t assume that 'one day…' we might have more time to invest in our marriage. The truth is our spouse and marriage need our focus now more than ever".....

https://xomarriage.com/a-busy-couples-guide-to-prioritizing-their-marriage/?

How Gratitude Helps Fend Off Fights

"The influence of a grateful mindset has a way of echoing throughout your entire relationship in a positive way that promotes a sense of harmony. We’re not saying it will prevent you from ever fighting again (conflict can be healthy, after all) but it can help you avoid the unnecessary ones that do more damage than good".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/how-gratitude-helps-fend-off-fights/

This One Secret Is A Game-Changer For Any Relationship

"And then we realized: there is actually a lesson here that could save every marriage, strengthen every relationship, and solve every division on the planet if every human being was able to apply it across the board".....

https://shaunti.com/2021/11/this-one-secret-is-a-game-changer-for-any-relationship/

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday with Your In-Laws

"I have learned some tips over the years from my friends who are not blessed to be close with their in-laws. Here are five tips to keep in mind as you spend time with your in-laws during the holiday season".....

https://empoweredhomes.org/resource/5-tips-for-a-stress-free-holiday-with-your-in-laws/

5 Ways to Apologize to Your Wife

"I’ve always found it difficult when I have to tell my wife I’m sorry—even with 15 years of practice. If this is hard for you too, here are 5 ways to apologize to your wife".....

https://www.allprodad.com/ways-to-apologize-to-your-wife/

7 Things Your Wife Deserves in Your Apology

"Apologizing is never fun, but it’s a necessity for your marriage. It takes humility to admit you were wrong and ask your wife to forgive you. We all make mistakes and say or do things we wish we could undo. Whenever that happens, we need to seek forgiveness immediately from the person we have hurt".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/7-things-your-wife-deserves-in-your-apology/

Times When Your Spouse Needs Your Support the Most

"Your vows may have specified for richer or poorer or in sickness and health, but the truth is, often the times in which we need that extra support are not always so clearly defined. They might seem like ordinary, 'just part of life' circumstances. That, combined with getting wrapped up in the hustle of our own daily life demands means it’s easy to miss out on opportunities to truly support our partner when they need it most".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/5-times-your-spouse-needs-your-support-the-most/

Why You Need to Accept Your Partner's Needs

"The key here is to take your partner’s needs into account while expressing yours. If you don’t communicate this, you run the risk of your partner thinking that you stopped caring, that their needs are only a priority when it’s convenient for you, or some other unintended message".....

https://www.gottman.com/blog/why-you-need-to-accept-your-partners-needs/

7 Ways to Protect Your Marriage In Hard Times

"If you will prioritize these seven actions in your own marriage, I’m convinced that you will be giving your marriage every opportunity to thrive even during difficult circumstances"....

https://ministrygrid.com/7-ways-to-protect-your-marriage-in-hard-times/

Strategies for Successfully Managing Anger in Marriage

"Marriage typically tends to produce more anger than other relationships. Perhaps this is because spending so much time with another person naturally generates more opportunities to become angry. We also put down our guard with our spouse — the person we love most. While being vulnerable and unguarded allows for greater intimacy, it also opens the door to more anger and frustration".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/3-strategies-for-successfully-managing-anger-in-marriage/

12 Small Gestures that Make a Big Difference

"In it’s simplicity, my friend, Ted Lowe gives some very sound advice. I know this blog helped remind me that, if done right, 'marriage is easier than you think.' Which one of these actions will you choose this week?".....

https://homeword.com/jims-blog/choose-one-of-these-12-tiny-big-things-for-your-marriage/#.YXbZ957MJPY

How to Be Set Free from Bitterness in Marriage

"Bitterness is like a small crack in the windshield of your relationship. It might look insignificant on the surface, but left alone it branches out and continues to split until the glass shatters into a million pieces. So let’s look at this important issue a little more closely".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/how-to-be-set-free-from-bitterness-in-marriage/

Does Keeping Secrets Make a Marriage Unhealthy?

"Does keeping secrets in marriage make it inherently unhealthy? Over our years of marriage, and our years counseling married and engaged couples, we’ve found the answer to be both nuanced and subjective".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/does-keeping-secrets-make-a-marriage-unhealthy/

What It Means to Become One

When Christians think about the perfect marriage, we should not take our primary cues from romantic comedies. But we can take at least one cue: we should be able to look our spouse in the face and say, 'You complete me'”.....

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/your-spouse-should-complete-you

Can You Fall in Love Again with Your Spouse?

"Of all marital problems, that which I have confronted the most often in my pastoral counseling is, 'I just don’t love her anymore.' While there is a vast difference between being 'in love' and loving someone, we still crave to be in love".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/troubled-marriage/saving-a-marriage/can-you-fall-in-love-again-with-your-spouse/

One Important Thing Healthy Married Couples Seek

In healthy marriages, there’s one important thing that spouses consistently seek. This perspective positively impacts the tone of every interaction in their relationship. When a couple pursues this in their marriage, it can make a tremendous difference in their dynamic over the years.

https://www.symbis.com/blog/one-important-thing-healthy-married-couples-seek/

Three Common Mistakes Couples Make During Conflict

"So what are these mistakes? Could knowing them transform your relationship?".....

https://www.gottman.com/blog/three-common-mistakes-couples-make-during-conflict/

Little Things Make a Big Difference in Marriage

"I want to encourage you today. With a simple truth that I’ve seen strongly in our research over the years: that some very small adjustments can make a big difference to transform struggling marriages".....

https://shaunti.com/2021/10/little-things-make-a-big-difference-in-marriage/

We Just Disagree (and that's OK)

"it’s better to disagree on the trivial things than on the big things. Going a step further, it’s more important to be aligned on the bigger mission or purpose than to agree on every idea or method for getting there. Wondering if this is all just semantics? Let’s explore further".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/we-just-disagree-and-thats-okay/

Does Your Husband Shut Down When You Ask Questions?

"If you’ve ever seen your man shut down when you think you’re just asking questions or giving helpful advice, here’s some of what might be going on—and some ideas for what to do about it".....

https://shaunti.com/2021/09/does-your-husband-shut-down-when-you-ask-questions-heres-why/

Staying Optimistic During a Difficult Season

"While the circumstances are all unique, the common thread is that when you’re in the thick of it, it feels hard. It’s easy to get discouraged, and you might begin to question how you’re going to make it through. Here are some tips for staying optimistic during a tough season".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/staying-optimistic-during-a-tough-season/

3 Kinds of Baggage that Can Crush Your Marriage

"Every marriage has baggage. That’s because each spouse comes into the marriage with a past that impacts the relationship. What’s yours? Here are 3 kinds of baggage that can crush your marriage".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/3-kinds-of-baggage-in-marriage

Two Individuals (Complete in Christ) Making Each Other Better

"Remember: if you’re a believer, your identity ultimately doesn’t come from your current season, role, or from your spouse in any way. Your identity comes from Christ. Don’t lose sight of this. Let’s unpack a bit more what this means".....

https://fiercemarriage.com/complete-in-christ-making-each-other-better

The REAL Reason Money Causes Issues in Marriage

"Here’s the one-sentence summary of the results of thousands of surveys: when we have tension with our spouse around money, it’s not about the money. It’s about how money makes us feel—and makes our spouse feel. It’s about how we process things".....

https://shaunti.com/2021/08/the-real-reason-money-causes-issues-in-marriage/

The Ripple Effect in Your Marriage

"Being a ripple effect also means your choices affect more than just your immediate surroundings. You may not see it now, but your decision to show up and invest in your marriage is one that will speak to the people in your life and shift the world around you".....

https://xomarriage.com/the-ripple-effect-in-your-marriage/?

Why Direct Communication Feels Mean

When you start asking for things directly, it can feel like you’re being really mean. But what if the opposite is true? What if speaking directly is actually a way to be kind?

https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2021/08/why-direct-communication-feels-mean/

6 Elements of Direct Communication

"In direct communication, you manage your emotions as well as possible so that your words are clear and convey the message".....

https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/2021/08/what-is-direct-communication/

We All Make this Marriage Mistake

"Mark Twain once wrote that 'comparison is the death of joy,' and I don’t think this is ever more true than in marriage. And if my own experience is any proof, ingesting too much social media when your relationship is already vulnerable can suck the joy out of your marriage faster than you can say #blessed".....

https://verilymag.com/2016/05/comparing-your-marriage-relationships-struggles-military-wife-deployment

Returning to Basic Rhythms of Rest and Relationship

"As my husband and I chat about what’s to come— on our calendar, with our work, for our kids— we keep coming back to this: We need to re-implement some basic rhythms.  And they all center around intentionality and rest".....

https://fiercemarriage.com/returning-to-basic-rhythms-of-rest-relationship

How to Level Up the Communication in Your Marriage

"While we communicate at different levels, it’s most important to communicate from the standpoint of protecting and nurturing one another’s feelings. If you’re ready to level up your communication with your spouse, read on".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/how-to-level-up-the-communication-in-your-marriage/

10 Reasons Why You Should Get Away Without the Kids

"The realities and responsibilities of parenthood can be overwhelming. Expenses increase, sleep decreases, and time alone can quickly be reduced to a few moments in the bathroom. The thought of going away on vacation can not only seem like something from a fairy tale, but it can also feel wrong, as if we are depriving our children somehow".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/10-reasons-why-you-should-get-away-without-the-kids/

12 "Secrets" to a Long Marriage

"Celebrating their marriage led me to think about 'secrets of a long marriage' I’ve heard from folks who were married for more than fifty years. So, I’m updating and re-posting these 'secrets'”.....

http://chucklawless.com/2019/08/12-secrets-to-a-long-marriage/

3 Hallmarks of Poor Communication Every Couple Needs to Know

"We know many of the hallmarks of good communication, such as active listening, empathy, and offering feedback to ensure we understand one another. But what about the features of poor communication?".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/3-hallmarks-of-poor-communication-every-couple-needs-to-know/

Shock Your Spouse and Kids with this Question

"What if your spouse asked you, 'What can I do to help?' What if you both adopted this type of servant attitude on a regular basis?  What impact would that have on your marriage?".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/gods-plan-for-marriage/a-simple-question-that-will-change-your-marriage-and-family/

Rebuilding Trust in a Relationship

"Are you rebuilding trust in a relationship? The word 'rebuild' implies that a relationship has been torn down and needs to be established once again".....

http://www.markmerrill.com/rebuilding-trust-in-a-relationship/

Don't Let Bitterness Poison Your Marriage

"That’s also how bitterness destroys a marriage. It stores itself in the soul, and slowly poisons the one who carries it. It’s a blade meant for another that eventually severs the hand that tightly conceals it".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/forgiveness/dont-let-bitterness-poison-your-marriage/

15 Ways to Refresh Your Marriage

"Whether your marriage is struggling or you just want to shake things up a bit, here are some ideas for building unity and getting a grip on bliss".....

https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/marriage/staying-married/communication/15-ways-to-refresh-your-marriage/

Dealing with Everyday Problems in Marriage

"If you’re experiencing some everyday challenges in your relationship–whether you’re facing unmet expectations, unpredictable events or seasons in your life, poor choices, or underlying issues you haven’t yet examined–it’s important to know that there is hope. Let’s look at what you need to know about the everyday problems you and your spouse might be facing in your marriage".....

https://www.symbis.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-everyday-problems-in-marriage/

5 Ways to Support Each Other as Parents

"Parenting becomes another aspect of your couple relationship that thrives when you both feel supported by each other. Here are some ways you can weave support for each other as parents throughout your relationship".....

https://www.prepare-enrich.com/blog/5-ways-to-support-each-other-as-parents/