The Healthy Marriage. It's all about giving.

I am passionate about marriage! I want everyone to have an amazing marriage and I want to see those who don’t, be healed and restored. I want those who are contemplating marriage to be as prepared as possible.

My blogs about marriage are going to be all about challenging you to be the best spouse you can be, regardless of who you have to live with.

A word for today for those who are single: Marriage is about giving. If you are not ready to give, then you are not ready for marriage. A good marriage is hard work but the rewards are incredibly satisfying!

A word for those who are married: Marriage is about giving. Don't fall into the trap of counting who's giving what, you start. Healthy giving has boundaries. I'm encouraging you to be a healthy person who gives within healthy boundaries. Work on being the best person you can be. Would you want to be married to you?

Giving can take many shapes:

• Get freshened up before he walks through the door (this means get dressed, tidy your hair and throw some lipstick and perfume on. He's your man, you still need to woo him).
• Give him a sweet smile when talking to him; give him a happy wife.
• Give your time by genuinely listening to how his day went, without dumping all your daily drama on him the second he walks through the door.
• Give him a tasty dinner; food (many a cranky man is just hungry or thirsty: feed the poor guy!)
• Give him affirmations, honor and respect (afterall, you chose him above everybody else).
• Give him "guy time" without manipulation or guilt.
• Give him a few moments of "unwind time" after a long day of work; don't put him to work the second he walks through the door.
• Give him a nag-free wife (turn that finger back to you and start there first), this includes sometimes just being quiet when all you want to do is criticize.
• Give him a clean house; pick up after him without complaining (view it as a way to love).
• Give him intimate time (many men are simply starving for this).
• Give him caresses as you walk past him; give him sweet, loving touches.

Challenge: Pick at least 1 way to give, from the list above and do it today!

Up for a bigger challenge? Pick something from the list everyday and practice giving intentionally for at least a week.

A good marriage is hard work, but you CAN do it!

You are awesome, now let him see that! :)