Keys to a Healthy Marriage (2)

Dear Reader,
Last week, I shared with you the practical steps to developing a strong relationship with your spouse. This week, I will be teaching on The Place of Effective Communication.

Communication is one of the most important ways to have a healthy marriage. A healthy marriage is one in which the couple can discuss about issues, including children, work, household management, and sex. Couples need to be able to discuss freely their feeling, how they feel about one another and how they feel about other things in life. This does not mean that the husband and wife always agree on every issue; but it does mean that each is willing to listen to the other, and to discuss their points of view. Good communication makes a healthy marriage!

Identify the differences in your communication patterns, and decide together the areas you will work on, so that you can communicate more effectively. In talking with each other, be sure that you take turns and make an effort to really hear what your spouse is saying. It’s important to remember that communication is like a game of tennis. There’s a sender, and there’s a receiver and both of these have to happen or the ball (the message) will be dropped (not communicated).

Get in the habit of sending and receiving in your everyday life together. As one spouse communicates his or her thoughts and feelings, the other spouse should make an effort to receive and understand the message that’s being conveyed. One of the easiest ways to facilitate understanding is by asking your spouse questions about what he or she has said. Receiving information in communication is usually the more difficult part for couples.

Communication is the key to a healthy marriage. Finding ways to be heard and to listen to your spouse are very important skills for a healthy marriage. Before marriage, couples often find themselves talking a lot, but this soon diminishes after the wedding day. Communication must continue throughout the marriage. The couple must continue to learn from one another, taking time to share their thoughts and feelings.

Most marriages fail because of misunderstanding or lack of good communication. Seemingly, the only type of dialogue in many marriages is arguing and fighting. This is not communication! Nothing productive ever comes from this, and it should be avoided at all costs. If the discussion escalates, both must make a point to apologize immediately. Husbands and wives should speak pleasantly to each other. Husbands should be extra careful of their tone, as wives can be sensitive in this manner. Depending on the tone, a question can be taken very differently, which could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

For your marriage to move forward in unity, productivity and harmony, both of you must know what you are thinking. Issues should never remain bottled up. You should take the time to listen, attempting to discern each other’s needs and concerns. Sincere compliments should also be a part of your regular communication.

Having effective communication in your marriage begins with effective communication with God. This entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: Dear Lord, I come to you today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with your precious Blood. I accept you as my Lord and Savious. Now I know I am born again!

If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God's Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8;