Events

Is your marriage worth protecting? I’ve seen too many workplace relationships begin with friendship but proceed to a disordered emotional intimacy. If it’s not stopped in time, it’s a slippery slope downhill... and all too often, it results in the disintegration of a marriage and family. That’s why, years ago, I decided to avoid things like complaining about my wife to female co-workers. I’m all for professional friendships with members of the opposite sex that are healthy and appropriate. Yet I have learned that one of the ways I can honor my wife is to protect our marriage. In other words, physical AND emotional intimacy are for her, and her alone. Our marriages are exclusive and worth protecting, especially when things aren’t going well. Let’s pray for one another.

From time to time, adjustments are needed in the way we communicate with others. Years ago, when all eight of my kids lived at home, there was a lot of bickering going on within the family. Verbal jabs and sarcastic comments had somehow become routine forms of communication. But wait, I thought. We’re a family. We love one another. We can do better than this. The solution? Every night after dinner, we began to go around the table and each of us would identify at least one thing we were grateful for that day relating to another family member. Men, we can do the same thing with our wives. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude, we get better at ensuring that our wives are held in the proper esteem. After all, they’re among the greatest gifts God has given us in our lives. Let’s pray for one another.

My wife got run off the road a while back. Some guy didn’t like the fact that Kathi had slowed down to merge onto the highway behind a school bus, and literally forced her onto the berm so he could get past. He was so focused on achieving his objective, whatever it was, that he risked a serious accident. Reflecting on this incident, I was struck by the thought that the same could be true if we men develop a disordered dedication to work. That might sound crazy, but how many people do you know who are divorced partly because of ridiculous work schedules? We all go through challenging times in our careers, and it’s not always possible to maintain a healthy balance. However, if work is consistently prioritized above your wife’s needs, it’s a matter for prayer and reflection. Let’s pray for one another.

Early in my career, I worked ridiculous hours. My schedule at the CPA firm was grueling, and our first three kids came along in two years and eight months. After our daughter was born, it became clear that the work-family balance thing wasn’t working. That’s when we hit a wall, and Kathi said, “It’s either the job or me.” I chose her, and changed jobs. Now, I’m crazy about my wife. But it didn’t feel like that to her. I wasn’t spending enough time at home to be the husband she needed. Now, changing jobs isn’t always the right answer. But it was the right decision for us at that time. Set aside one-on-one time for your wife on a regular basis, and make sure you pay attention to her needs. Listen without problem solving, give her emotional support, and provide genuine affection. She’s worth it.

I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation just outside my office. “Yeah, I’m not sure whether I want another baby. One day I think yes, the next day not so much.” A female co-worker was speaking with a couple other colleagues who stood nearby, nodding sympathetically. Exiting my office, I smiled at the group, and they immediately burst out laughing. They probably figured that I had an opinion on the subject. In a secular workplace, I’m something of a curiosity. After all, why anyone would want eight kids? Of course, each couple needs to pray and discern this important subject, and it's a conversation worth having. In my personal experience, and now as a grandparent, there are few things as precious and valuable as my family. Every child and grandchild is an incredible blessing.

I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation just outside my office. “Yeah, I’m not sure whether I want another baby. One day I think yes, the next day not so much.” A female co-worker was speaking with a couple other colleagues who stood nearby, nodding sympathetically. Exiting my office, I smiled at the group, and they immediately burst out laughing. They probably figured that I had an opinion on the subject. In a secular workplace, I’m something of a curiosity. After all, why anyone would want eight kids? Of course, each couple needs to pray and discern this important subject, and it's a conversation worth having. In my personal experience, and now as a grandparent, there are few things as precious and valuable as my family. Every child and grandchild is an incredible blessing.

I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation just outside my office. “Yeah, I’m not sure whether I want another baby. One day I think yes, the next day not so much.” A female co-worker was speaking with a couple other colleagues who stood nearby, nodding sympathetically. Exiting my office, I smiled at the group, and they immediately burst out laughing. They probably figured that I had an opinion on the subject. In a secular workplace, I’m something of a curiosity. After all, why anyone would want eight kids? Of course, each couple needs to pray and discern this important subject, and it's a conversation worth having. In my personal experience, and now as a grandparent, there are few things as precious and valuable as my family. Every child and grandchild is an incredible blessing.

I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation just outside my office. “Yeah, I’m not sure whether I want another baby. One day I think yes, the next day not so much.” A female co-worker was speaking with a couple other colleagues who stood nearby, nodding sympathetically. Exiting my office, I smiled at the group, and they immediately burst out laughing. They probably figured that I had an opinion on the subject. In a secular workplace, I’m something of a curiosity. After all, why anyone would want eight kids? Of course, each couple needs to pray and discern this important subject, and it's a conversation worth having. In my personal experience, and now as a grandparent, there are few things as precious and valuable as my family. Every child and grandchild is an incredible blessing.

I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation just outside my office. “Yeah, I’m not sure whether I want another baby. One day I think yes, the next day not so much.” A female co-worker was speaking with a couple other colleagues who stood nearby, nodding sympathetically. Exiting my office, I smiled at the group, and they immediately burst out laughing. They probably figured that I had an opinion on the subject. In a secular workplace, I’m something of a curiosity. After all, why anyone would want eight kids? Of course, each couple needs to pray and discern this important subject, and it's a conversation worth having. In my personal experience, and now as a grandparent, there are few things as precious and valuable as my family. Every child and grandchild is an incredible blessing.

We live in a culture that isn’t always supportive of men honoring their wives. When’s the last time you were part of a group of guys speaking positively about their wives? In the office, the gym, the locker room? TV or social media? Not so much. Unfortunately, many husbands today have become mired in our culture’s downfalls. Challenges abound, including impurity, broken relationships, loneliness and distraction. So why even try? Because even with our imperfect efforts, I’m convinced that there’s a ripple effect that goes way beyond our own marriages. We’ll impact other souls, including those of our kids. Small changes—and a little grace—can yield big results. Our faith provides the antidote to the challenges we face, so let’s be counter-cultural, and honor our wives every chance we get.