Kass P Dotterweich - Be-good-to-your-marriage Therapy

Be-good-to-your-marriage Therapy Kass Dotterweich Illustrated by R. W. Alley Abbey Press All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. Text copyright 1990 by Kass P. Dotterweich
Illustrations copyright 1990 by Saint Meinrad Archabbey ISBN: 978-1-4976-8033-3 Abbey Press Publications 1 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577 www.abbeypress.com Distributed by Open Road Distribution 345 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 www.openroadmedia.com Foreword Since you first came together in marriage, you and your spouse have probably given careful attention to the practical aspects of your shared life: finances, children and their care, career goals, and home responsibilities.

In the midst of all these concerns, however, its easy to forget that love has a life of its own. Too often, couples neglect their relationship until tiny irritants grow into a serious crisis. Be-good-to-your-marriage Therapy is a gentle attempt to help couples nurture love and head off troubles. The thirty rules in this book are gleaned from the sound advice of professionals and the tried-and-true experience of couples. The simplicity of the rules enshrines an ageless wisdom that can enable couples, through mutual respect, to live faithful to each other in the presence of God. 2. Ask for what you want; your spouse cant read your mind. 3. Compliment your spouse; be sincere. 4. Compliment your spouse in front of others; public praise lasts a long time. 5. Touch your spouse gently; touching says I love you in a special way. 6. Be romantic; never stop courting each other. 7. Respect your spouses right to privacy; individual space is important. 8. Dont fear change; change in a marriage can mean growth. 9. Spend time apart; separate interests generate interest between you. 10. Play noncompetitive games together; you both win! 11. Say I love, you; its a joy to hear those three little words. 12. Always look your best; your spouse deserves it. 13. Fight fairly; no threats, accusations, or name-calling. 14. Be willing to apologize; love means being able to say, Im sorry. 15. Risk being hurt; love cannot deepen without risk. 16. Graciously forgive; love is not proud. 17. Entertain friends; they are part of your marriage. 18. Laugh together; laughter can bridge great gaps. 19. Cry together; shared tears bond hearts. 20. Share your dreams; intimacy anticipates tomorrow. 21. Surprise each other; the unexpected stirs the heart. 22. Let yourself be weak; marriage is interdependence. 23. Let yourself be strong; marriage is interdependence. 24. Do loving things for your spouse; your own heart will respond. 25. Respect your spouses family; youre now part of it. 26. Look for love; its there even when you dont feel it. 27. Enjoy silence together; silence between lovers is sacred space. 28. Remember the past; your past forms the present and the future.