In the movie Forget Paris, the character Andy quips, “Marriages don’t work when one partner is happy and the other is miserable. Marriage is about both people being equally miserable.” Have you noticed how movies and TV shows tend to portray being married as one of two extremes—happily ever after and happily never after? But in real-life relationships, it falls …
Why Regular Maintenance is Great for Your Marriage
Our bodies require maintenance to stay healthy. Gardens need maintenance to grow. Cars need maintenance to run well. A business needs maintenance to be successful. Why should it be any different for marriages? Many couples have premarital counseling before tying the knot, which is great. But you’d never expect four or five workouts at age 22 to keep a person …
A Marriage Fit for Royalty
A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones (Proverbs 12:4). A Wife of Noble Character Although the meaning has changed, apparently the idea of a trophy wife has been around for a long time. The author of Proverbs lays down a pretty stark comparison to show what he thought …
10 Things to Try if You Regret Getting Married
Does this story sound familiar? You met the man or woman of your dreams. You went out for coffee or a meal and couldn’t believe how easy they were to talk to. The two of you began dating, and you felt so alive when you were with them. As time went on, you began to imagine what it would be …
Get Closer By Serving Together
How’s your serve? Kick your relationship up a notch by serving together. People devote untold amounts of energy to drawing closer together with their spouse. At MDI, we’ve developed entire courses to help you achieve this critical task. We do our best to keep you stocked with helpful tools and resources to stay on track in your marriage. It’s what we’re …
10 Lessons from 21 Years of Marriage
My wife and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary on Thursday last week. It seems like yesterday when we met for the first time. She was walking down the street in Buckhead, Atlanta, and I was standing outside a restaurant that I had just opened. I was 24 and she was 27. For me, it was love at first sight. …
12 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Spouse
What constitutes a strong foundation for a marriage? A marriage relationship can be one of the most rewarding experiences two people can have this side of heaven—or it can be one of the most difficult. Too many couples enter into the marriage relationship relying solely on the power of their feelings rather than establishing healthy relational habits. But feelings can …
10 Simple Ways to Celebrate Your Love Every Day
What if every day were Valentine’s Day? I know, I know. You want to show how much you care for your spouse, but it feels like it takes a ton of effort and thought just to make the officially recognized holiday special. Just hear me out. Think about the mindset that makes February 14th such a romantic day. The happiest …
Three Reasons Not to Quit Your Job
You may be tempted to quit your job. But is that the best choice right now? Fred the Baker is an all-star. Who is Fred the Baker? You mean you don’t remember him? He remained the faithful face of Dunkin’ Donuts during the 1980s and was famous for always saying “time to make the donuts.” The best thing about Fred …
Show Your Spouse You Care by Doing This
“I’ll have the root canal, please.” Said no one ever. Still, that’s how many people act when subjected to the thought of spending time doing certain things their beloved enjoys. It’s not the easiest thing to embrace your spouse’s interests when they are nothing like yours. Maybe you’ve been there? An evening at the opera just isn’t your thing. Or you …