Below are very brief tips Nancy Cobb, renowned author and speaker, shared with us to break the silence in a marriage.   These tips were shared at our Iron Sharpens Iron workshop last Friday! 

Mark your calendar for May 11th!  That’s our next luncheon.  A special suprise will be anounced next week!  Stay tuned.

(Please keep in mind:  Nancy reiterated to us that if you are in an abusive situation –  get out.) 

Here are the tips:

• Men do not like long stories.  Save the stories for your girlfriends and give him the bottom line. 
• Accept what he’s doing for you as an act of love.  Does he wash the car?  Put gas in the car?  Thank him!  That’s his way of expressing love.
• Study your husband.  Determine what he likes and doesn’t like –
• Is your husband blunt?  Accept him the way God made him.
• Is your husband angry?  Non-communicative?  Remote?  Pray for him.  Resolve to bring him joy despite his response.
• Don’t interrupt him when he’s talking.  Look at him when he’s talking to you.
• Stop telling him how to drive.
• Abolish the cold treatment.
• Stop nagging – stop with the silent treatment!
• The biggest thing you can give your husband outside of sex is respect.
• Admire your husband and take time to thank him.

There were many more!
I had dinner this week with a friend of mine named Maggie.  She lost her husband 13 months ago to prostate cancer.  Time with this precious friend gave me such perspective.  A perspective of things that I take for granted.  Maggie encouraged me to be intentional about thanking my husband for the small things that she is now learning to do on her own.  Things she never did before.

So I:

• Thanked him for doing the taxes so that I didn’t even have to think about it this week!
• Thanked him for changing the air filters – something I never give another thought – yet is important.
• Thanked him for always making sure the car’s oil is changed and all is good with the car –
• Thanked him for how hard he works to provide for us.

One of the things Maggie shared with me was that for years she would get irritated that Bob never wanted her to spend any money on remodels or for the frilly things that she wanted.   He wanted them to live frugally. 

Now she understands – Bob wanted her to be provided for when he would no longer be around to provide.  And because she submitted to his wishes, she’s amply provided for!

I hope these re-caps have been helpful.  Hug and thank your husband!

Have a great weekend:)