Good Advice

I just came across this list of marriage advice on a friends blog (check it out here) and absolutely love it! The original list is quite long so I decided to only include some favorites, though the whole thing is great! Note: this is written in prospective of a father to his son.

{Thanks for sharing, Jennifer!}

Praising your wife in front of other people does wonders for her self-esteem.

Criticizing your wife in front of others, even in jest, is always a bad idea. Always.

Sometimes, she doesn't want you to solve the problem. She just wants you to listen. I know, I don't understand it either.

Credit card debt is a monster. Don't fall for it, even for the short term.

Live on less than you make. In fact, learn to live on one income. Swim against the tide.

Tithe. Not only does it honor God, it also brings focus to the rest of your money decisions.

Laughing together is even better for you than exercising together.

Don't be so afraid of hurting the other's feelings that you never really talk about how you feel. It took five years of marriage before I finally told your mom I didn't like grape jelly, which she'd been putting on my peanut butter sandwiches every day.

Don't be too embarrassed to talk about sex together.

Praying together every day might be the most intimate thing you can do. Even more than sex.

Pray together before any big decision and most small ones. The ultimate decision is far less important than the fact you are praying together about it.

Find regular times of quietness, both together and alone. Watching a Cubs game doesn't count.

Hold your career with a light touch. It's not who you are, it's only what you do.

Find a good church and get involved. Don't just be spectators. Churches have enough of those.

If you wait until you feel confident and ready to have kids, you will never have kids.

When you fight, fight fairly and cleanly. No yelling, no escalating, no pouting.

Approach each day with a thankful heart. It's a freeing thing to realize that no one owes you anything. First Timothy 6:6 says, "Godliness with contentment is great gain."

Your wife is an amazing gift from God. Treat her that way.

No marriage is bulletproof. Guard it with everything you have, and entrust it to God.