Do you want to improve your marriage? Do you know of someone who may need help with a troubled marriage? Happy marriages do exist and they are not as rare as many people may think. When you improve your marriage, everyone one in the family can benefit. So, how about those married couples with children?
Think of the comedy and cartoon TV shows about families on television. In almost everyone of them, the tension between man and wife is exaggerated and made fun of. In the comedy TV show, Married with Children, Al and Peggy Bundy are often at odds with one another. Their daughter Kelly and son Bud watch the exchanges between their mom and dad with open eyes. Kelly and Bud often shoot barbs at their parents, while commenting on their parents' relationship.
What is wrong with this picture? Have you ever wondered what the Bundys or the Simpsons thought about a happy marriage in store for themselves? Does this actually happen in real life?
Today in the United States nearly one out of two marriages fail. The divorce rate is near fifty percent for first-time married couples. Because of this, many children from broken families wait longer and longer to marry. Some decide that they don't want to get married at all. What children see from their parents' marriage affects their own attitudes as they grow up. So, it is very important that a husband and wife love each other, communicate with each other and express their care for each other.
Ericka Chambers is a teenage girl who is both a songwriter, singer and a daughter of a loving mom and dad. Recently, Ericka wrote a song, "All is Right" about her parents' loving marriage. They produced a music video that is posted online. Ericka Chambers is a bright and talented teenage girl, who loves her parents and has witnessed their love in their marriage. You have to watch her video to find out how she responds to seeing a loving marriage. It touched my heart to see her put on a wedding veil, hoping that a happy marriage is in store for her some day.
Remember, a marriage isn't about just the relationship between husband and wife. It's about how the entire family is affected by that love, how the present is made secure, and the future is made brighter.
When children see and "catch" their parents in love with each other in a happy marriage, they have a happier home life and can be thankful that "All is right" in their family. The first step to improve your marriage is to see a positive example, like the one in Ericka Chamber's video.
If you've been putting up with a mediocre marriage for far too long, and are willing to really look at yourself and see if there's anything you can do to improve it, read on. This list isn't a simple, pat answer for troubled relationships. There are certainly times when professional help is needed. But it does offer simple solutions that we don't always think about as we go through the daily routine of married life.
Over the next week, work through this list. Add one idea per day and see if your marriage doesn't look brighter in 7 days.
1. Make up your mind to change. This is where it all starts and is the single most important thing you can do to improve your marriage. Without a commitment, without making up your mind to make it better, it won't. Plain and simple. Decide today to get up of that mundane couch and do something. Meditate on: Romans 12:2
2. Pray. It might be necessary to tweak your prayers, which may consist of ?Lord, change my husband/wife,? to ?change me, Lord.? If you pray according to God's will (and prospering in your marriage IS God's will), He will hear you and will be faithful to answer. Meditate on: John 16:23, 24
3. Focus on the positive. Your actions always follow your thoughts. If you constantly focus on your spouse's negative qualities, your attitude and actions will not be positive. As difficult as it might be, try to choose one or two qualities you love about your spouse and focus on those instead. You'll find that when you do, immediately, your feelings will begin to change. Meditate on: Philippians 4:8
4. Hold your tongue. How many times are we tempted to (or do we) blurt something out without thought of the effect our words will have? According to Proverbs 18:21, the tongue can speak life or death. Decide to speak life into your marriage. Today, when you feel the urge to say something sarcastic or ugly or just not very nice, bite down on that tongue. If you can't find bring yourself to say something kind, at least offer a smile. Meditate on: James 3:15
5. See eye to eye. No, this isn't saying you need to agree on everything. It means that when your spouse speaks, look him or her in the eye and truly listen. Stop doing the dishes, turn off the television, take your eyes off that computer screen and refocus your attention. This simple action tells your spouse that you value them and desire to hear what they have to say. Even if it's during Survivor. Meditate on: James 1:19
6. Praise. Everyone loves to be complimented, adored, appreciated and praised. Do you easily pat a co-worker on the back? Do you find yourself complimenting your friends? Then why is so hard to show appreciation for the one you married? Make taking each other for granted a thing of the past. Look for things to praise. Does he take out the garbage every week without complaining? Does she make sure you always have clean clothes in your closet? There are always things to compliment and acknowledge. A simple ?thank you? is sometimes all it takes to reignite the spark that's fizzled. Meditate on: Proverbs 31:28
7. Give it to God. When you dedicate your efforts to the Lord, the results are in His hands, not yours. That's such a relief, isn't it? You don't have to stress about it anymore! You do your part, such as following the previous six suggestions, and let God do the rest. If you are faithful to do what's right, you will be rewarded ? ultimately with a better marriage. Meditate on: Galatians 6:9
Diligently implementing these things gives you a great start to improving a mundane marriage. Start today and see your marriage begin to climb to a new level in just one week!
Both Dave Pipitone & Lynn Powers are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dave Pipitone has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bahamas Vacation, Golf Guide and Travel and Leisure. To watch the touching by Ericka Chambers, visit Dave's blog at. Dave Pipitone's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.