Intercourse All the Time

by C.J. Mahaney

They call it intercourse. But the word doesn't just refer to sexual union. In fact, the first couple dictionary definitions don't refer to sex at all. Those meanings basically involve human communication and interaction of every kind, especially the exchange of thoughts and feelings.

I believe genuine romance, such as we find in the Songs of Solomon, is meant to be a growing reality within every Christian marriage, not a dimming memory. And I am convinced that the key to consistent growth in romance is found in the regular use of "carefully composed words."

Why do so many of us go home at the end of the work day - home to our wife, the most important person in the world to us - and suddenly stop communicating clearly, creatively, and without purpose? It's no mystery. We can all be selfish and lazy. So let us heed Duane Garrett's words: We could have a happier home if we would simply verbalize our love for our wives even a little more often.

Husbands, it is a privilege, joy, and God-given responsibility to romance our wives...really romance our wives. As we look to this Song of Solomon for guidance, we see that romance involves, at a minimum, communication and creativity.

I'll bet some of you are starting to wonder, "Hey, Mahaney, when is this book gonna get to the bedroom stuff? I thought this was about sex!"

Let me assure you...we've already started talking about sex.

Grandparenting and Marriage
by Dr. Gary Chapman

In America there are sixty million grandparents. That number will increase to seventy-six million within 2006.

But modern grandparents are not necessarily "built in babysitters" for their grandchildren. Many of them are on cruise ships and attending Broadway plays.

But most grandparents want to have a relationship with their grandchildren. After all, grandparents are the family historians. They get to pass on to the grandchildren, all those stories, about what it was like "when I was a child."

If grandparents have good marriages, they can serve as models for their grandchildren. They offer security and stability in times of change. They give unconditional love, kindness, and understanding. They listen as non-judgmental counselors. They become the grandchild's personal cheerleader.

But grandparents who are fighting each other, who are depressed or controlled by alcohol or drugs, have little to offer, but a negative example. "Please don't be what I have become," is their message.

Isn't it time to give a little thought to the value of your grandchildren, and to the changes you need to make to be a good grandparent?

Today's article is based on the book, How To Really Love Your Adult Child. For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources, click here.