Les Parrott III's Blog, page 8
September 2, 2014
How to Stay Out of the Doghouse
When your wife says “What?”,
it’s not because she didn’t hear you.
She’s giving you a chance to change what you said.
–Les Parrott
It never fails. We can be in a college classroom with a couple hundred students or an auditorium with a couple thousand couples. Whenever we show a brief video called Beware of the Doghouse (produced by JCPenneys in 2009), the audience erupts with laughter.
The bit features guys who’ve done something that offended their wives, buying them insulting gifts like a vacuum...
August 26, 2014
How to Find the Peace You’re Both Looking For
Many are the plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21
“The traffic on Westlake is crazy,” Leslie told me. “They’re doing some construction as you near Mercer Avenue. So beware.”
I was driving to meet Leslie across town, and she’d just passed through the same streets where I was starting to travel.
“Thanks for the heads up.”
Did this little bit of info matter? Surprisingly, yes! I didn’t get uptight wondering what was happening. Instead, I took a round abou...
August 19, 2014
Six Reasons Couples Don’t Listen to Each Other
Don’t just think about your own affairs,
but be interested in others, too,
and in what they are doing.
Philippians 2:4
Ever noticed how we sometimes can’t recall the birthday of a loved one, but we can’t quite forget every word of the Brady Bunch theme song. Why is that?
Well, research reveals that adding music helps our recall (consider how we teach little ones their A-B-Cs through a song).
Unfortunately, most of us can’t get our spouse to sing a conversation to us – or would we want that. Weird,...
August 12, 2014
Four Steps to Curb Criticism in Your Marriage
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
Proverbs 15:1-2
We have our share of critics. Like all authors, you learn to take the good with the bad.
But several weeks before the release of our latest book, Making Happy, we did an interview with a London newspaper, The Daily Mail, which generated some critical comments (among many positive ones) that got us laughing:
“What a load of tripe. Total...
August 5, 2014
How I Traded in Hurt Feelings for Happiness
Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent.
A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.
Hebrews 12:15
After an exhausting weekend of speaking, bookended by travel days with little sleep, we were finally back home. Regrouping. Rejuvenating.
Wanting to nurture Les back into a place of strength and rest, I served him his favorite healthy breakfast of oatmeal. Just the way he likes it – with an assortment of nuts and berries. I event put the milk in a little pitcher nex...
July 29, 2014
Money Talks and So Can We
Get wisdom — it’s worth more than money;
choose insight over income every time.
Proverbs 16:16
“Why do you always make the money decisions?” Leslie asked me.
We were standing in the middle of a department store trying to choose a new couch. And it seemed to her that I was controlling the decision.
“I don’t make the money decisions,” I said with a hint of superiority, “our bank account does.”
That remark was followed by a lengthy, whiny discussion — okay, it was a fight — over how we manage, or shou...
July 22, 2014
Do You Have a “Dream” Marriage?
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Acts 2:17
“Copy … sheets … copy.”
“What?” I asked Leslie, who was obviously dreaming, as we lay in bed.
“The sheets must be copied, please,” she replied sternly with eyes still closed as she tossed and turned.
“You’re dreaming,” I said softly.
Her eyes flashed open and she looked around the room for a moment. “What a weird dream.”
“You were probably dreamin...
July 14, 2014
Our Marriage Isn’t Perfect – Duh!
Because we loved you so much,
we were delighted to share with you
not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
I Thessalonians 2:8
When Les and I first began to receive calls to speak as a couple at marriage events and seminars across the country, I had extreme self-doubt and anxiety.
I felt that the only credibility I could have as a teacher was if I was able to perfectly embody everything I taught. The fear was so crippling I not only fasted and prayed—I found a therapist.
It was immobiliz...
July 8, 2014
Avoid These 10 Annoying Behaviors
Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
Proverbs 12:16
“Are you listening to me?” Leslie asked.
“Of course,” I replied, “I’m hearing every word.”
But we both knew that wasn’t the point.
Leslie was bringing me up to speed on her day while I was sitting at my computer, giving her occasional eye contact.
“Seems like you’re more interested in your email or Facebook or whatever you’re looking at there.”
She was right.
I readily admitted it. It’s become a pattern – a very an...
July 1, 2014
How to Stay Clear of the Silent Marriage Killer
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.
Be gentle with one another, sensitive.
Ephesians 4:31
Les walked through the front door of our home this week, set a copy of the Wall Street Journal on the kitchen counter and said, “Let’s never give each other the cold shoulder again.”
“Again?” I asked. “When do we ever do that?”
Les held up a section of the paper he’d just read about the damage it does to a married couple when they give each other the silent treatment – that destruct...
