Marriage Articles

Why Does a Wife Not Hear That Her Husband Needs Respect?

Do You Have the Humility Necessary to Move First?

Do You Have the Humility Necessary to Move First?

When a husband and wife find themselves on yet another out-of-control Crazy Cycle—where feeling unloved, she reacts without respect; and feeling disrespected, he reacts without love—how do they decide who is going to be the first to stop reacting unlovingly or disrespectfully?

What Do You Think When You Hear “Happy Wife, Happy Life”?

What Do You Think When You Hear “Happy Wife, Happy Life”?

You’ve probably heard the phrase “happy wife, happy life” before. Maybe it’s in the context of something simple, like choosing what restaurant to eat at or not leaving dirty clothes on the bathroom floor.

Why Does a Wife Not Hear That Her Husband Needs Respect?

Why Does a Wife Not Hear That Her Husband Needs Respect?

The idea of unconditional respect for the husband has always been the Love and Respect message’s unique feature, based on Ephesians 5:33. Many books stress Paul’s instruction for husbands to love their wives (“each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself . . .”), but few spend equal space if any at all, to the rest of the verse (“. . . and the wife must respect her husband”).

How Is C.H.A.I.R.S. The Key to Having More Meaningful Conversations With Your Husband?

How Is C.H.A.I.R.S. The Key to Having More Meaningful Conversations With Your Husband?

Many wives share disappointment that their husbands rarely talk to them at a deeper level. “Emerson, when we were dating, we used to talk long into the night getting to really know each other. What happened to him?”

Are You Humbly Voicing a Need or Formalizing a Complaint?

Are You Humbly Voicing a Need or Formalizing a Complaint?

In the beginning, after God had created Adam and placed him in the garden to cultivate it, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).

How Is C.H.A.I.R.S. The Key to Having More Meaningful Conversations With Your Husband?

Are You Humbly Voicing a Need or Formalizing a Complaint?

I Just Want My Wife Happy [Video]

I Just Want My Wife Happy [Video]

Many husbands share that they want their wives happy. I believe most of them are sincere. SOME DISCOUNT A HUSBAND’S SINCERITY. But as you probably know some folks do not think you really care all that much about your wife's happiness. To them, you are more words than actions.

Why Must Husbands Love and Wives Respect? [Video]

Why Must Husbands Love and Wives Respect? [Video]

“Emerson, why do you teach that a husband must love his wife and a wife must respect her husband? Don’t we all need love and respect equally? After all, women need respect and men need love.” I agree that we all need love and respect equally. But our research reveals that during conflict 83% of the husbands feel disrespected during marital squabbles and 72% of the wives feel unloved. For any number of reasons, men and women are different, and the beautiful thing is that God recognized that in Ephesians 5:33 where he commands husbands to love and wives to respect.

What To Do if Love and Respect Doesn't Work

What To Do if Love and Respect Doesn't Work

FAQ: “I have tried Love and Respect for a few months. Nothing is changing in my marriage. Why isn’t this working?” Dr. E says: My encouragement to you is to be consistent and do not give up! Love and respect is not a “magic bullet” nor is it a vending machine: “If I love her, she’ll give me respect immediately.” Or – “If I respect him, he’ll immediately give me the love I want!” That’s manipulation, and that’s not loving or respectful! If your spouse senses that you are manipulating him/her in any way, this will backfire.

When a Spouse Won’t Help Fix the Marriage [Video]

When a Spouse Won’t Help Fix the Marriage [Video]

Recently I posted a blog about it taking two to make a marriage work and it’s not the two people you may think! We received a lot of comments on that post. Many agreed, but many disagreed saying it takes three, both spouses and God. Lisa Shea has been leading women in how to show respect to their husbands since 2004 when she read my book Motivating Your Man God’s Way. She has been on staff with Love and Respect for the past three years.