Shouldn’t Love Be Easy?
Consider the expectation of two couples at different stages in their relationship. Couple A, together for six months, drip with affection as they dream of a lifetime together. When asked...
When Marriage Counseling Doesn’t Work
There is an method of marriage counseling that remains popular among therapists working with couples in conflict. This approach assumes that the key to marital contentment lies in learning better...
Your Spouse Speaks, But You Don’t Understand
Dissect any argument between a man and a woman and this is probably what you’ll find: the conflict has little to do with what each is saying, but much to...
She Wishes for Sheet Swishes
This past weekend, my wife and I shared a morning free from pressing agendas and so we stayed in bed for awhile. Sharon, especially, loves those mornings. Gleefully, she kicked...
There You Are!
Recently, I sat down with a family member who asked me how my day had been going. I started to share about an afternoon of putting up the Christmas tree...
Full Forgiveness
Let me admit something to you: I’ve had difficulty writing this. My past posts about forgiveness came more easily, but this time… this time I stalled whenever I considered what...
Decisional Forgiveness
Some people consider forgiveness an all-or-nothing proposition. It’s a bit like bungee jumping; you can either stand frozen or you can take the step, but you can’t go just half-way...
Bartered Forgiveness
In previous posts, I wrote about two expressions of forgiveness that, when offered, actually inhibit healthy recovery: premature forgiveness (quickly offered but withdrawn when the reality of the offense is...
Fake Forgiveness
Another Saturday night. Jake sat at the table with a group of friends, sipping at his wine while inwardly bracing himself. His wife, Marci, had started in again with the...
Premature Forgiveness
My grade-school friends and I were playing by the side of the road when the Neighborhood Bully came riding by. I knew him only by reputation and so had no idea...