~Appreciate Your Spouse~Buoyancy in Marriage~Consult Your Partner~
~Dream Together Part One ~Dream Together Part Two~Empower Your Spouse~
~Have Fun With Your Spouse~Give to One Another~Honor Each Other~
~Be Intentional~Jubilee~Kingdom Focused~Listen~~Mentor Relationships~
~Nourish~Own It~Pray With Each Other~Quick to Listen~
Read Together
Being on the Same Page – Matt’s Thoughts
Variety in marriage is fun. So, when it comes to reading together, mix it up, taking into consideration what would be good for the two of you. Laura and I have never gone wrong by reading books, articles, posts or other material that is written to help marriages. Even if it is not insightful for our context, at the very least we are side by side trying to align ourselves with each other. We have read from the Bible and discussed it and we have read material that is just plain fun…like a joke book. We don’t read together every night, but we talk about what each of us is reading separately. I urge you to read at least one book together every year that is specifically for marriage relationships written by an author(s) who has a Christian worldview. Whether you borrow it from your local library, church library, or a friend, or whether you purchase it so that you can own it and reference it, the key word here is TOGETHER. If only one of you reads the book, then you’re not on the same page…pun intended. Make it happen TOGETHER.
If you are like us, we have good ideas like reading a book together and then we blink and 2011 is almost history. This “good idea” of reading together probably won’t take place unless you agree on the book and schedule it TOGETHER. Of course life happens and schedules need to be rearranged on occasion, but our experience has been that the time together and discussion that follows connects the two of us.
Yes, it needs to be intentional, but beware of the checklist mentality and the critiquing spirit – as in critiquing the author. Speaking from experience, I have needed to choose to have the right attitude when it is reading time. I remember one particular couple’s devotional book that I was counting down the pages ’til it was complete. It just wasn’t doing anything for me. The reason it wasn’t doing anything for me was because of my attitude. Once I stopped the countdown and ceased being critical of the writer’s style, then the discussion about its relativity to my marriage improved.
A suggestion if you are having trouble deciding: Visit with other couples who have healthy marriages and see what they would recommend reading and ask them why they would recommend it.
Yeah, What Matt Said – Laura’s Thoughts
I think Matt said all of this wonderfully. The only thing I’d like to add is this: For those of you who don’t enjoy reading, try books on CD. (I almost said “books on tape”, which like totally tells you that we grew up in the 80’s and that I used to have big hair.) You may not love every book or concept you read together, but be sure to ask yourself if you don’t love it because it’s difficult to hear. Sometimes the truth hurts. Allow God to stretch you and challenge you with books that enrich your marriage.
Books That Have Benefitted Us or Other Couples (alphabetical order):
Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl
His Needs Her Needs by Willard F. Harley Jr.
Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat MD and Gaye Wheat
Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Loving Your Marriage Enough to Protect It by Jerry B. Jenkins
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray
Night Light by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before (and After) You Marry by Les & Leslie Parrot (This is what we are currently reading and it’s good for us even after 17 years of marriage)
The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
What have you and your spouse read together that you would recommend?
Ladies, we know you’re reading here more often than the guys. ;) We’d love husbands to read this article as well. If you feel so inclined please send the link to your husbands, or if it’s easier, we’ve created a downloadable article for you to quickly print off and share. Healthy Marriage Tips A to Z – Read Together
Missy says
We love Love and Respect. Timeless information that needs to be revisited often. This is the book that my husband and I give as gifts to couples we know who are getting married. It’s about time for us to reread it! Thanks for the push (shove!) to spend time together!
Faith says
thanks for the encouragement! this is a wonderful idea. i am going to share it with my husband tonight and see what he says…we have done the “moments with you” devotionals from dennis rainey, and it helped us a lot. but like you said, its so easy to get preoccupied with life and forget to make it a priority. i’m glad you posted this to remind me to do it again. have a blessed weekend!
Stacy Makes Cents says
My husband and I love to read together. It really is a good bonding time for us, especially when it’s devotional books we read. Great post!
Jeri says
We’re reading two great books together right now: Weird by Craig Groeschel and Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. It’s such a great way to have spiritual discussions about important topics!
Jeri says
We also both read a blog post that inspired a positive discussion about parenting recently. Even if you and your spouse aren’t homeschooling, this article is an excellent read: http://www.joshharris.com/2011/09/homeschool_blindspots.php
Read only on the days you eat. :)
Heather In Michigan says
If you can all get your hubby to read a book with you, I say, “Kudos to you!” Not my man. Do they make this information in video game form? with guns and dragons? *sigh* Until then…I read alone.
Crystal says
“When Sinners Say I Do” by Dave Harvey
My church had a marriage class based on this book, and it stretches you to very uncomfortable places.
They also have a class based on “What Did You Expect” by Paul Tripp, which I haven’t personally read, but will take their word that it is good!
Tania says
I second “When Sinners Say I Do”! So good, I think every couple getting married should read it. Anyone should read it, really it is more than a marriage book. It is the first book I recommend to anyone getting married.
Amber says
Question. I have recently started seeing my boyfriend and it’s long distance. I started to think of ways we could do stuff together but when we’re apart. I’m looking for some great book ideas for us to read together to not only help us but be fun as well! Any suggestions would be great thank you!