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If I ranked comments from wives to me, this one comes in close to the top: “My husband hurts my feelings.”
Countless divorcees have told us over the years that had they known the Love and Respect truth underlying the negative cycle they found themselves constantly on (which we refer to as the Crazy Cycle), they would never have divorced.
Husbands and wives are going to disagree . . . many times. They’re going to have arguments . . . many times. On top of that, husbands will disappoint wives, and wives will disappoint husbands, bringing reason for the offended or hurt spouse to broach a possibly sensitive or tough topic.
There is an axiom that I have used in my teachings for as long as I can remember that, to this day, I still fully believe in its simple but life-changing truth: “My response is my responsibility.”
When I was on staff at a church in the 1970s, we sought to serve widows and orphans. Though they were not all widows, we decided to lean into assisting single parents specifically.
The key to motivating another person is meeting that person’s deepest need. Since Ephesians 5:33 reveals that a wife needs love and a husband needs respect, then the key to motivating a wife is to meet her need for love, and the fundamental way to energize a husband is meet his need for respect.
Someone who only speaks German cannot communicate with someone who only speaks Spanish. Each needs to learn the other's vocabulary. Communication can only happen when there is mutual understanding. Communication is not the key to marriage. Mutual understanding is the key to a successful marriage.
A wife wrote to me saying, “My husband has disconnected from our marriage. We were on the Crazy Cycle for years, and it got really bad this year. He had an emotional affair and is now convinced that we can never be happy together, can both eventually find happiness elsewhere, and he wants a divorce.“I've been trying the CHAIRS principle for 3 months and have gotten very little response.
Have you been infected with the disease of Love and Respect? Has the message of Ephesians 5:33 so contaminated you that it oozes from your pores? Are you so contagious that when you sneeze you infect others with the same Love and Respect disease? As you share the good things happening to you, does this create an enthusiasm in others to hear more?
Though you are not experiencing as much fulfillment in your marriage as you expect, can you experience fulfillment from doing God’s purpose in your marriage? Have you ever prayed about discovering God’s purpose for you in the marriage apart from your spouse? PRAY: Father, forgive me for thinking in the midst of this marital pain and struggle that my life is lacking purpose.
When you feel helpless in your marriage, where do you turn? Is this moment of feeling weak an opportunity to encounter the power of God on your behalf? If so, how do you receive this inner power? PRAY: Lord, Your Word says that Your grace is sufficient for me and that Your power is made perfect in my weakness.
When anxious about the stresses swirling about your marriage, do you experience God’s peace in your heart? If not, what can you do? PRAY: Lord, I know You say in Your Word, “My peace I give unto you.” Right now, right here, I ask You to grant me Your peace.
In the midst of your troubles (and all have troubles in marriage according to the Bible), do you feel God is far away or near? Do you feel connected to Him? If He feels absent and not present, what can you do? PRAY: Lord, in 1 Corinthians 7:28, You reveal that there will be trouble in marriage.
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