Follow the intriguing
story of Abby and Al as they search for happiness in an unhappy
marriage.
Since there are no perfect people
in the world, there are no perfect marriages. Anyone who claims he
has never been tempted to think that his spouse was ornery
(difficult to deal with) is either falsifying or is living in a
dream world. Most people are honest enough to admit that at one
time or another they have been ornery.
Sometimes what appears to be
orneriness in a spouse is simply that mysterious element of
maleness or femaleness that seems to lead so inevitably to
misunderstandings. A sincere effort to understand how the opposite
sex thinks usually makes this kind of "orneriness"
evaporate.
When the moving parts of a machine
are in close contact, friction is unavoidable, unless oil is
present to lubricate the gears. A marriage without a healthy sense
of humor can quickly get red hot.
One couple that came to me for
counseling seemed to have enough roadblocks and booby traps to
wreck a dozen marriages. Yet these partners could throw back their
heads and laugh at themselves. This was a decade ago—and I’m
happy to report they are still together and to all appearances
reasonably happy.
There are, however, irritations for
which the oil of humor seems unable to help. In such marriages the
happiness quotient is greatly diminished or entirely absent. Yet
God has some healing "good news," which in many cases,
if not all, will bring relief.
We’re not concerned here with
things to do to make a marriage more happy. Good advice is seldom
helpful when we’re plagued with emotional paralysis. What is
helpful is good news. Our concern therefore is what to believe.
No matter how hopeless the
situation may appear to be, at any given point the communication
line between the Saviour and you is Good News.
This
32 page book is available in printed form from the publishers.