This last week my husband and I ran away from home to celebrate our 25th anniversary (I set up a number of posts in pending so that TGW blog could move along without me).  I have a couple of thoughts (surprise).

One, celebrations are really, really important.  They help us see the good in life and they give us an opportunity to bless people and thank God for His goodness. Always room for that, I'm thinking.  So, as a tip, look for opportunities to celebrate with your sweetie.

My other thought is a little bitter sweet and requires a bit of history.  Many years ago I was married and that marriage ended in divorce.  I didn't believe in divorce, but circumstances forced it and in that moment much of my belief system went down in flames.  I still believed in God, but all the feel good stuff I'd been taught about the Christian life did not survive the fire.  I learned that He is truly faithful, but that His ways are higher than mine.  I got to watch the miracle of Him rebuilding my life.  I learned to be a little more understanding of the brokenness of others' lives and I grew in ways that only come from walking with God in a real life, one with lots of bumps and scrapes.

All this wandering down memory lane to remind myself and y'all that God is good and that He is faithful.  He is a God of restoration.  I encourage y'all to be less hard on yourselves and more dependent on Him.  Apart from Him we can do nothing and in Him we can see miracles happen, even the miracle of 25 years of marriage after a divorce.

(I'd also like to thank my sweetie (who always reads my tips).  Thank you so much for letting God use you in my life.  You've lived a life that so reflects God that I feel I know His face in yours.  You have earned the right to be called The Generous Husband.)

Be generous!  Lori <><

The other day I was watching a couple talk (from a distance).  They were constantly interrupting each other. Neither of them felt heard and as a result neither was willing to listen. It was a very sad cycle.

The moral of this story is that, in difficult situations, someone has to start listening and because I email with y'all and I have your ear, I'm asking y'all to be the first to listen. I know it is not easy when you feel unheard or misunderstood, but if you can listen, you may be able to start a new and better trend.  When your husband feels heard, he will be more likely to listen and then you have the beginning of communication.

If you usually communicate well, it never hurts to practice the skill of listening, perhaps ask a few questions. Listening deeply says you care about him and you want to hear his heart.

To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well. John Marshall

Be generous!  Lori <><