This version of “Marriage Helps” contains some of the exhortations and advice that Pastor gives to a couple during their wedding ceremony. “Marriage Helps #2” was actually where he typically begins: “Embrace the Gospel”. Now he proceeds to “Engage in communication”.
Marriage requires a couple to “get engaged” in constructive communication with one another.
The most satisfying “intercourse” in marriage is that of human communication and interaction, the active exchange of thoughts and feelings by a couple of spouses.
“Before I was married, I would lie awake at night thinking of all that my fiancée had told me that evening. Now that I am married, I fall asleep before she stops talking.”
Remember how long you used to talk on the phone, how interested you were in what was said, how carefully you “exegeted” and interpreted every word the other said, how dinnertime was a constant exchange of ideas, dreams and plans. Now you stare at your mobile devices rather than each other, and conversation gets deleted. This is due to two problems. We stop talking. We stop listening.
“To the degree that two people reveal themselves to one another, to that same degree they will or will not experience relational intimacy (Priolo).”
We need to be “communications majors”, committed to being clear, consistent, kind, constructive and lovingly interested, opening our hearts to one another about the truth, our spiritual blessings, struggles, desires, family, ministry, church, aims and goals as a couple, as parents, as citizens of heaven.
Carve out time to communicate. Eliminate the distractions.
