Happily by Kevin A Thompson

-
Happily: 8 Commitments of Couples Who Laugh, Love & Last

8 Commitments of Couples who Laugh, Love & Last

Okay, so I think I will read anything that Kevin Thompson writes. I can't really describe what I like about his style of writing, but it really works for me. I read his first book, Friends, Partners, and Lovers and I thought it was one of the best books on marriage I had read. Then I read this book, Happily and think that again.

I'm not sure if it's the way he presents the information or what he says or how he says it, but I walk away from these books with a fresh view on marriage and renewed determination to make my marriage the best it can possibly be. I have had other books on marriage do that as well, but these rank at the top of the list for me.

There aren't a lot of anecdotes in the book, but there are a lot of lists and I can resonate with that. This is how it should look, this is how it shouldn't and I can grab a hold of that concrete wisdom better than an abstract principle that I'm not sure how to apply. In many ways, looking back, and based on his conclusion, I think Kevin took the Beatitudes and what we can learn from them and applied it to marriage. Happily Humble Yourselves. Happily Embrace the Hurt and so on. He never comes right out and says that, but his conclusion talks a lot about the Beatitudes and I can see them in these eight commitments.

I was challenged once again to work hard on my marriage, to be willing to do things that seem contradictory to the world's ideas and to recognize that criticism might mean we have a good thing going. I like the idea that marriage is about so much more than me and my spouse, it involves more people, it's success and/or failure affects so many around me, and ultimately it's to be a model of Christ and His church. That's a tall standard to live up to.

"When we know who God is and who we are, we can function within ourselves. The result is humility. When we're humble, we understand our limitations, don't have an inflated view of self, and don't try to control the world." Ouch, there's something to strive for.  "Humility causes us to care more about fixing what is wrong than appearing as though everything is all right."

Lots of good thoughts in this book and it's going on my to re-read shelf, well it would if I had a shelf like that, but it's a book I want to come back to fresh insight and renewed vigor to give my marriage everything I have. It will be worth it.

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fragrant Whiffs of Joy by Dorcas Smucker (It's Giveaway time)

-
Image
Ah yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I've wanted to review Dorcas' last book or two and was always too chicken to ask, but this time I threw caution to the wind and said, "Yes, I want to review your book." And I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect book for this stage in my life. Short, easy to read chapters that can be picked up and read whenever and wherever. They are guaranteed to either make you laugh, smile, cry, or or just give you that ah-ha feeling that someone else experiences life like that too.  I could quote from pretty much every chapter something that struck me in one of those ways, but I really want you to go buy the book so I won't do that many spoilers. I only want to give you a hint of what is to come in the book. First off, isn't the cover beautiful? I can dream of a kitchen table like that with the apple pie still steaming and the tea pot, or coffee pot more likely, full to the brim and a beautiful arrangement of flowers ...
Read more

All the Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth

-
Image
I haven't posted a book review in over two weeks, I must be lazing off!!! Actually, I had two books going at once and also read a non-review book in between. Not that I think anyone missed me or anything. But just to be clear, I am back and have about six books to review in the next few weeks. Okay, "All the Pretty Things". When I started this book, I loved it. I thought it was an amazing story and it is. Edie was born to an alcoholic father. She rarely saw him sober, but she loved him and enabled him until his dying day. She missed that father figure in her life and attempted to salve that wound by working hard at everything she put her hand to except her marriage. She was raised in rather extreme poverty. Her parents divorced and both remarried, but divorced again. She was abused as a child, though it became a repressed memory that came out through recurring nightmares. She was introduced to Jesus and would often respond to altar calls to make sure she was saved. Sh...
Read more

PRECIOUS CHILD

-
In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo...
Read more