Les Parrott III's Blog, page 3
August 18, 2015
Prayer for Patience is Important to Your Marriage
If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:25
A man and woman spotted each other on the morning New York-to-Washington air shuttle. Sparks flew, but no words were exchanged, even as they stood together in the taxi line at Washington National.
She got in a cab, looked back, and saw him running after her. She begged the cabbie to stop, but he kept going.
In desperation, she scrawled her phone number on a piece of paper and pressed it against the back window. But...
August 11, 2015
Complaining is Good for Your Marriage
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
The Rev. Bowen was struck with an inspired idea while taking a shower.
He was tired of hearing the parishioners at his Kansas City church complain about everything from the choice of hymns at the Sunday service to the informal dress code at the church’s Saturday night worship.
So, he asked his flock to take a pledge: vowing not to complain, criticize, gossip...
August 4, 2015
Are You a Generous Tipper with Your Spouse?
That is why I am commanding you to share freely. Deuteronomy 15:11
Sometimes a little story, apocryphal or true, can make a point that stays with us. So here’s one about a little boy that carries an underlying message for every couple:
Many years ago, a ten-year-old boy walked up to the counter of a soda shop and climbed onto a stool. He caught the eye of the waitress and asked, “How much is an ice cream sundae?”
“Fifty cents,” the waitress replied.
The boy reached into his pockets, pulled ou...
July 28, 2015
The Key to Overcoming Your Differences
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2
Leslie is a morning person. Les is a night owl.
Leslie tends to be slow-paced. Les is built for speed.
These are just a couple of our differences. You’ve got them, too. It’s inevita...
July 22, 2015
The Secret to Managing Your Emotions
Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. I John 3:20
Scientists call it “metamood.”
It’s the ability to pull back and recognize that “what I’m feeling is anger,” or sorrow, shame or whatever.
It’s a difficult skill because our emotions so often appear in disguise. A person in mourning may know she is sad, but she may not recognize that she is also angry at the person for dying – because this seems somehow inappropriate.
A parent who yells at the child...
July 14, 2015
How to Help Your Spouse out of a Slump
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. Proverbs 12:25
Spouses routinely underestimate the importance of a kind word.
We’re not talking about elaborate praise or a heartfelt poem, as wonderful as these things are.
We’re talking about the simple, everyday, kindness of small talk. Kind words, such as: “Thanks,” “You’re great,” “I missed you today.”
“The small day-to-day things you say are more important than any of the overarching communication issues,” says Clifford...
July 7, 2015
Ready to Mentor Another Couple?
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel 12:3
We’ve been teaching relationship courses at the university level for nearly two decades and if there’s one thing we know is true about that experience it is this:
If you want to learn something, teach it. It’s an age-old adage that we’re reminded of nearly every time we finish a lecture.Have you discovered this insight?
Once you try to effectively co...
June 30, 2015
Finding Strength through Peace
One handful of peaceful repose is better than two fistfuls of worried work.
Ecclesiastes 4:6
The king was building a new palace, and he wanted the main entrance hall to be decorated with a large work of art.
The king envisioned his kingdom as a peaceful land, so whoever’s painting best symbolized peace would win a large cash prize.
Over the next few months, hundreds of paintings arrived at the palace. The king decided on the top two. Before announcing a winner, he hung both paintings in the p...
June 23, 2015
Growing Together Through Our Faults
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
Let’s be honest. We all have tendencies toward meanness, selfishness, envy, materialism, cruelty, dishonesty, lust, irresponsibility, and so on.
But here’s something you may not know: the more of these miserable parts we have – and the more we bring them into the open – the stronger our potential for goodness is.
Why?
Because our character is hammered out not in the absence of negative traits, but because of them.
Your strugg...
June 16, 2015
Overcoming Hurt As a Couple
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
Proverbs 10:12
It hadn’t been a good morning. Just before breakfast they had blown up at each other.
“You are so self-centered and insensitive,” she told him.
“Well, you overreact to everything,” he retorted.
She wanted to take some time to talk about the situation. He couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Before they hopped in separate cars to drive to work, each got in a few final jabs on the fly.
Truth be told, the argument ha...
