Les Parrott III's Blog, page 10

Why Some Couples Are Happier Than Others

God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7

We were sitting in an airport terminal recently and observed an older couple seated across from us waiting to board the same plane. She leaned over and asked him a question, looking directly into his eyes. We didn’t hear what either of them said, but he smiled and patted her on the knee. A minute later, she got up and brought him a cup of coffee. He looked surprised and delighted.

It wasn’t dramatic. In fact, it was barely per...

How To Instantly Get Your Love In Tune

Your hearts will burst with song,
make music like the sound of flutes on parade,
En route to the mountain of God,
on the way to the Rock of Israel.
Isaiah 30:30

Neither of us is very musical. Leslie can play the piano, a little. Les, well, he really, really wishes he played the piano or guitar. But we both love music. Doesn’t everybody?

Music activates parts of the brain that trigger happiness, releasing endorphins similar to the ways that sex and food do. A song we like, be it classical, folk or...

How to Be More Loving – It’s Not What You Think

Celebrate God all day, every day.
I mean, revel in him!
Philippians 4:4

Every once in a while we encounter someone who tries to argue that making happy is a selfish pursuit. We understand that thought. After all, some silly and downright selfish things are done in the name of pursing happiness. Many a marriage counselor will attest to hearing something along these lines: “I’m not happy in this marriage; God wants me to be happy; therefore I want out of this marriage.”

This self-centered perspect...

Why the Kardashians Aren’t Keeping Up with Marriage

When life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.
Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced.
I Peter 4:12-13

Kim Kardashian is preparing for a wedding with boyfriend Kanye West. Her marriage last year lasted just 72 days, as everyone knows. Her sister, Khloe (married in 2009), filed for divorce from her husband recently. And their parents, Bruce and Kris Jenner, married for 22 years, are currently separated.

“I have thought a...

How to Instantly Make Your Marriage Happier

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
Isaiah 43:19

“You signed us up for what?”

“A trapeze class,” Les said.

“As in ‘flying through the air with the greatest of ease’ kind of trapeze?”

“Yes. I found a special they were running with Groupon – it’s like half price or something.” Les was speaking as if he ord...

How to Be Happy When Your Spouse Drives You Nuts

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—
unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
Matthew 7:5

After nearly three decades of marriage, I (Les) still find it unbelievable that Leslie doesn’t live life with a little more organization. Whether it’s managing money or a calendar, or simply knowing what we need to buy at the market, Leslie is a free spirit.

It can drive me nuts – but it’s also one of the things I love most about Leslie. She’s the disorganized ying to...

The Best Predictor of Lasting Love

This is my beloved and this is my friend.
Song of Solomon 5:16

We were having lunch at a café just north of Seattle when we noticed a young couple at another table. The man got up to pay the bill but his wife stayed seated in their booth. After paying the check, her husband came back and stood in front of her. She put her arms around his neck, and he lifted her up with his arms supporting her legs. He backed out the front door with her to a pick-up truck as she continued to hold her arms around...

A Simple Way to Stay Connected

The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.
Proverbs 10:21

“I didn’t know you and Gary planned a ski trip for next month,” Leslie said as I ended a phone conversation with my friend Gary.

“Sure you did,” I responded. “You were at dinner that night when I told him it would be great to meet in Colorado this winter. Don’t you remember?”

“I remember being at dinner with you and Gary, but I don’t recall any plans for a ski trip.”

Ever had one of those conversations? Or ho...

How To Kiss Like You Mean It

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Proverbs 24:26

At a church near our home in Seattle, a Japanese couple that had recently arrived in the States, was getting married. Despite their limited exposure to western customs, the American-style wedding went well.

But when the minister invited the couple to kiss, nothing happened. Surprised, the minister turned to the bride and said, “How about a little kiss?” Not wanting to offend, she shyly leaned forward and kissed the minister!

She’s not t...

Don’t Let Valentine’s Day Ruin Your Love Life

“If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” –Author Unknown

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. — I Corinthians 13:13

Normally when I give Les a greeting card of any kind – for his birthday, our anniversary, or whatever – I can almost see him thinking:

I wonder how long I need to keep this card on my desk?

He’s a bit of neat freak.

But last Valentine’s Day I gave Les a card that he STILL has, a year later, front and center. He sees it almost e...