Daly Focus Blog
In order to stand at a wedding altar and say, “I do” with confidence, couples must first understand who they are as individuals. Only a person with a healthy sense of “I” can give to the marriage as much as he or she receives.
A thriving marriage doesn’t erase individuality. It celebrates it. It puts one’s individuality to work in service of the relationship, molding two people into one while encouraging each person’s individual flames to burn bright.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record on Monday, closing above 38,000 for the first time ever. Not to be outdone, the S&P 500 also set a new high. How long it lasts is a question and matter left to financial gurus, many of whom disagree.
Tracking the stock market’s performance provides us with an indication of where the economy is, and maybe even where it’s going. Numbers can’t tell us everything, but they can tell us a lot.
How big is your marriage’s “joy gap”?
Dr. Marcus Warner and Chris Coursey, authors of the book The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled Marriages, describe a “joy gap” as the length of time between moments of joy. If you apply that unit of measurement to your marriage, how long has it been? Days? Weeks? Months?
Your joy gap can be especially lengthy if you’re waiting for your circumstances to change on their own, for your spouse to make you joyful, or for God to zap you with joy.
And just like that, the new year is off and running! It’s hard to believe we’ve already turned the calendar over to January, and another year is before us. But time marches on. And that’s why we need to make every moment count.
Of course, that’s what new year’s resolutions are all about, right? This is traditionally the time when we think about areas of our lives that need changing over the next twelve months, like losing weight or saving money.
Did you know that the tallest sand castle ever built was as high as a six story building? In 2021, an international team of sculptors spent three and a half weeks shaping 5,000 tons of sand into a castle 70 feet high.
Some of the bystanders wondered, “Why invest all of that time, money, and hard work into something that the wind and the waves will eventually sweep away?”
That’s a good question for you and me to answer as well.
According to the National Science Foundation:
People think an average of 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day.
80% of those thoughts are negative.
And 90% of those thoughts are repetitive.
That’s why author Ted Lowe – founder and director of MarriedPeople.org, an organization dedicated to strengthening marriages – says one of the best things you can do for your marriage is to learn how to change your own mind.
Embracing a positive mindset boosts confidence, wards off depression and anxiety, and helps manage stress.
As the old saying goes, “You can choose your friends but not your family.” You discover how true that is during the holidays. Spending time with family members who see the world differently than you do can be stressful.
To fill this season with joy and peace instead of frustration and conflict, here are a few ideas to keep in mind:
First, try these three magical words: “Tell me more.” Argumentative people are less likely to escalate if they feel heard.
Good marriages are built on connection points. Money. Sex. Communication. And this one, which often gets overlooked: spiritual intimacy.
As the label suggests, spiritual intimacy is when a couple is unified in their beliefs about God and spirituality. Couples who aren’t unified run into trouble. Like Maria and John. They didn’t talk much about their spiritual beliefs when they were dating. After they got married, they were caught off guard when the challenges of life put their deepest values to the test.
Many women feel overwhelmed. They’re busy from morning until night yet still don’t seem to have enough time for important things like devotions, exercise, friendships, sleep, or quality time with their families.
My wife, Jean, did a great job of keeping our family and household in order during our parenting years. But some days the strain she was under was tough. Like the evening I came home from work and Jean met me at the door.
Prayer is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your marriage.
You’ve probably heard that advice and believe it. But prayer still falls by the wayside when life gets busy and responsibilities demand your time and attention.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Marriage Is Essential,” our guest, Jodie Berndt, is answering how to incorporate prayer into your marriage in a way that not only helps you grow closer to your spouse but deepens your relationship in Christ.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
