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Making Marriage Beautiful: Lifelong Love, Joy, and Intimacy Start with You
What makes a marriage beautiful? Honesty? Compatibility? Physical and emotional intimacy? All of these are important, but there’s one component that determines the quality and longevity of a marriage more than anything a willingness to grow.
Because a wedding joins together two imperfect people, all couples experience disappointment, conflict, and pain. How husbands and wives respond to these challenges determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have.
Making Marriage Beautiful reveals how the pursuit of Christ results in profound transformation for both the individual and the marriage. Rather than offering clichés and formulas, Greco relies on candor, humor, and real life stories to bring encouragement and wisdom to all couples, regardless of whether they have been married four weeks or forty years.
Because a wedding joins together two imperfect people, all couples experience disappointment, conflict, and pain. How husbands and wives respond to these challenges determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have.
Making Marriage Beautiful reveals how the pursuit of Christ results in profound transformation for both the individual and the marriage. Rather than offering clichés and formulas, Greco relies on candor, humor, and real life stories to bring encouragement and wisdom to all couples, regardless of whether they have been married four weeks or forty years.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
53 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Littell Greco
5 books83 followersDorothy Greco spends her days making photographs, exploring the connection between faith and contemporary culture, and whenever possible, being on or in the water. Her first book, Making Marriage Beautiful, was released in 2017. Marriage in the Middle was released by IVP in 2020. For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Misogyny in America releases in the fall of 2025. Her writing has been published in Missio Alliance, Christianity Today, Relevant, MOPs, and more. You can find her words and images over at dorothygreco.com or sign up to receive her Substack posts: What's Faith Got to Do with It?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 8, 2016
The thing I appreciate most about Greco’s book is that it holds as its bedrock the possibility that a marriage can be fulfilling, rewarding, and, yes, beautiful without sugar-coating the very hard, very human, very broken challenges of being partnered with another person. By revealing her own struggles and those of her husband (told only with his permission), Greco paints a realistic and hopeful picture of what marriage is and can be.
Read the rest of the review at https://andilit.com/2016/10/08/vulner...
Read the rest of the review at https://andilit.com/2016/10/08/vulner...
March 10, 2019
I don't typically read books about marriage - see the review of this book on my blog as to why. But I began to see comments and reviews about a Christian marriage book that seemed different – with positive remarks about it from both complementarians and egalitarians. The book is: Making Marriage Beautiful by Dorothy Littell Greco, David C. Cook, 2017.
While written by Dorothy, her husband Christopher “chimes in” at points in the book. Dorothy is real and relatable, sharing situations from her own life and their marriage. There is a series of interviews with other married couples, where both the husband and wife share their perspective. This provides a variety of marriage situations. It enriched the book! Everyone should find something they can relate to and learn from.
The opening 3 chapters, to me, laid the foundation. It anchors us in Christ, and encourages us to be honest about our sinfulness. I liked this: “Being mindful of our sin and how it affects others is not meant to crush us or disempower us; it’s meant to motivate us to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.” (Page 26)
Content in chapter 2 highlights the need for realistic expectations and awareness of how marriage brings together two people from different family backgrounds. Even families from the same culture will have different ways of handling conflict, communicating around the dinner table, etc. Different is not wrong or dysfunctional (although it could be) but simply different. I would have benefited from this content early in my marriage! I saw things in my husband’s family as wrong that was not – only different – and I was unnecessarily judgmental at times. I related to Dorothy’s lasagna example!
I loved chapter 3, entitled “Beyond Pink and Blue, Creating Christ-centered Gender Expectations.” Don’t worry – the author is not obliterating gender differences – but room must be allowed for uniqueness and individuality. Trying to push our spouse into a role that does not fit them is not helpful and can even be hurtful. “By pursuing Jesus rather than distorted cultural standards, we can stop expending so much energy trying to fit in and instead respond to God’s unique call.” (page 68) – I was reminded of something Dr. Sandra Glahn of Dallas Theological Seminary said: “Our truest masculine and feminine selves happen when we are pursuing Jesus.” – Sadly, some Christian marriage material distracts from Jesus. It reverses the emphasis, putting gender roles first and Jesus second. Chapter 3 was a breath of fresh air!
After these foundational chapters, individual chapters deal with things like: disappointment and anger, importance of listening, dealing with addictions, confession and forgiveness, times of suffering/hardship, sacrificial love. The end of each chapter has questions to help you thoughtfully consider and apply the content.
The sacrificial love chapter had valuable clarification about sacrifice, and the importance of equality rather than hierarchy in marriage. Following the example of Jesus, inequitable power dynamics should not exist. One spouse should not be domineering the other. “If you are continuously demeaned, belittled, or threatened by your spouse, I urge you to seek professional help.” (page 232)
Dorothy is clearly well-read, and throughout the book she would share quotes from other authors that helped make a point. I also think the book is broadly applicable. Whether you have been married a few months or many years, this book can help you. I think it could be beneficial for engaged couples to read before their marriage. And while this book is indeed about marriage, many of the ideas could apply to other relationships in life – friendships, co-workers, etc. A review on goodreads said “This book won’t just make you a better marriage partner, but a better human!” – I agree.
My blog is lightenough through wordpress dot com
Review of this book here: https://lightenough.wordpress.com/201...
While written by Dorothy, her husband Christopher “chimes in” at points in the book. Dorothy is real and relatable, sharing situations from her own life and their marriage. There is a series of interviews with other married couples, where both the husband and wife share their perspective. This provides a variety of marriage situations. It enriched the book! Everyone should find something they can relate to and learn from.
The opening 3 chapters, to me, laid the foundation. It anchors us in Christ, and encourages us to be honest about our sinfulness. I liked this: “Being mindful of our sin and how it affects others is not meant to crush us or disempower us; it’s meant to motivate us to be less self-centered and more Christ-centered.” (Page 26)
Content in chapter 2 highlights the need for realistic expectations and awareness of how marriage brings together two people from different family backgrounds. Even families from the same culture will have different ways of handling conflict, communicating around the dinner table, etc. Different is not wrong or dysfunctional (although it could be) but simply different. I would have benefited from this content early in my marriage! I saw things in my husband’s family as wrong that was not – only different – and I was unnecessarily judgmental at times. I related to Dorothy’s lasagna example!
I loved chapter 3, entitled “Beyond Pink and Blue, Creating Christ-centered Gender Expectations.” Don’t worry – the author is not obliterating gender differences – but room must be allowed for uniqueness and individuality. Trying to push our spouse into a role that does not fit them is not helpful and can even be hurtful. “By pursuing Jesus rather than distorted cultural standards, we can stop expending so much energy trying to fit in and instead respond to God’s unique call.” (page 68) – I was reminded of something Dr. Sandra Glahn of Dallas Theological Seminary said: “Our truest masculine and feminine selves happen when we are pursuing Jesus.” – Sadly, some Christian marriage material distracts from Jesus. It reverses the emphasis, putting gender roles first and Jesus second. Chapter 3 was a breath of fresh air!
After these foundational chapters, individual chapters deal with things like: disappointment and anger, importance of listening, dealing with addictions, confession and forgiveness, times of suffering/hardship, sacrificial love. The end of each chapter has questions to help you thoughtfully consider and apply the content.
The sacrificial love chapter had valuable clarification about sacrifice, and the importance of equality rather than hierarchy in marriage. Following the example of Jesus, inequitable power dynamics should not exist. One spouse should not be domineering the other. “If you are continuously demeaned, belittled, or threatened by your spouse, I urge you to seek professional help.” (page 232)
Dorothy is clearly well-read, and throughout the book she would share quotes from other authors that helped make a point. I also think the book is broadly applicable. Whether you have been married a few months or many years, this book can help you. I think it could be beneficial for engaged couples to read before their marriage. And while this book is indeed about marriage, many of the ideas could apply to other relationships in life – friendships, co-workers, etc. A review on goodreads said “This book won’t just make you a better marriage partner, but a better human!” – I agree.
My blog is lightenough through wordpress dot com
Review of this book here: https://lightenough.wordpress.com/201...
February 14, 2017
There’s a lot of things that you just simply can’t anticipate while sitting there before the wedding, stars in your eyes and happily ever after on the horizon.
Making Marriage Beautiful covers a lot of these “just simply can’t anticipates” and it does so with a writing style that leaves you feeling as though the author is someone with whom you’re swapping heart-stories over your fave hot beverages. I also really enjoyed the mini-interviews with different couples, from varying ethnicities and ages and backgrounds. There is someone in this book that just about every reader can relate to, and that’s one thing that sets it apart.
Dorothy Greco covers such topics as unrealistic expectations (“Not Your Mother’s Lasagna”), Christ-centered gender expectations (not gender stereotypes), mining disappointment and anger, listening, disordered attachments & addictions, and confession & forgiveness … plus more. She relates her own experiences and her husband even chimes in several times – and they readily admit that they do not have a perfect marriage! I loved this insight into what they’ve learned and how they’ve learned it as well as their openness and authenticity along the way – something else that sets this book apart from others.
Bottom Line: Making Marriage Beautiful is full of wisdom for newly marrieds, oldly-marrieds, and hope-to-be-marrieds. The author’s honesty (and her husband’s), as well as the included interviews with couples of varying backgrounds, helps the reader relate to what’s being discussed. The questions at the end of each chapter personalize it even further and make this a great resource for couples to read together.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
Making Marriage Beautiful covers a lot of these “just simply can’t anticipates” and it does so with a writing style that leaves you feeling as though the author is someone with whom you’re swapping heart-stories over your fave hot beverages. I also really enjoyed the mini-interviews with different couples, from varying ethnicities and ages and backgrounds. There is someone in this book that just about every reader can relate to, and that’s one thing that sets it apart.
Dorothy Greco covers such topics as unrealistic expectations (“Not Your Mother’s Lasagna”), Christ-centered gender expectations (not gender stereotypes), mining disappointment and anger, listening, disordered attachments & addictions, and confession & forgiveness … plus more. She relates her own experiences and her husband even chimes in several times – and they readily admit that they do not have a perfect marriage! I loved this insight into what they’ve learned and how they’ve learned it as well as their openness and authenticity along the way – something else that sets this book apart from others.
Bottom Line: Making Marriage Beautiful is full of wisdom for newly marrieds, oldly-marrieds, and hope-to-be-marrieds. The author’s honesty (and her husband’s), as well as the included interviews with couples of varying backgrounds, helps the reader relate to what’s being discussed. The questions at the end of each chapter personalize it even further and make this a great resource for couples to read together.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 7, 2017
What makes a marriage beautiful? Honesty? Compatibility? Physical and emotional intimacy? All of these are important, but there’s one component that determines the quality and longevity of a marriage more than anything else: a willingness to grow. Because a wedding joins together two imperfect people, all couples experience disappointment, conflict and pain. How husbands and wives respond to these challenges determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have. Making Marriage Beautiful reveals how the pursuit of Christ results in profound transformation for both the individual and the marriage. Rather than offering cliches and formulas, Greco relies on candor, humor and wisdom to all couples, regardless of whether they have been married for four weeks or forty years.
Making Marriage Beautiful is divided into 11 chapters that each focus on a different topic from “Tuning In: Why Good Listeners Make Better Spouses” to “Choosing Joy: God’s Secret Weapon”. The author begins by explaining the rough start she had with her husband during their engagement and marriage. And then the second chapter jumps right into acknowledging “scars” such as problems with family. There is a chapter that talks about dealing with addictions and a chapter that talks about confessing things you have done wrong and forgiveness. Basically each chapter talks about a particular issue that may be a common obstacle that comes up in many marriages and how to fix that problem. The chapter about gender roles wasn’t a particular favorite of mine, although I know in this day and age it is an important issue to address. I am probably biased as my husband and I both equally believe in traditional gender roles, however I often also do things such as mow the lawn or wash a car as well. We just don’t feel the need to “go against gender expectations.” This book is also a Christian based book and the author cites scripture throughout the book that may relate to the issue the chapter is talking about. At the end of each chapter there is also a section called “Going Deeper” that has several questions relating to the chapter.
Overall I thought it was one of the better books I have read on strengthening marriage from a Christian perspective. It covers a range of topics that I imagine are common obstacles in marriages and gives practical advice about how to resolve those issues and move on. The author makes the point that marriage can be fulfilling and beautiful, even when it’s hard and full of challenges. I personally liked that aspect of the book, as I have read other books in the same genre that don’t seem to acknowledge that marriage can be difficult and although there will be challenges, it’s still beautiful and full of joy.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Making Marriage Beautiful is divided into 11 chapters that each focus on a different topic from “Tuning In: Why Good Listeners Make Better Spouses” to “Choosing Joy: God’s Secret Weapon”. The author begins by explaining the rough start she had with her husband during their engagement and marriage. And then the second chapter jumps right into acknowledging “scars” such as problems with family. There is a chapter that talks about dealing with addictions and a chapter that talks about confessing things you have done wrong and forgiveness. Basically each chapter talks about a particular issue that may be a common obstacle that comes up in many marriages and how to fix that problem. The chapter about gender roles wasn’t a particular favorite of mine, although I know in this day and age it is an important issue to address. I am probably biased as my husband and I both equally believe in traditional gender roles, however I often also do things such as mow the lawn or wash a car as well. We just don’t feel the need to “go against gender expectations.” This book is also a Christian based book and the author cites scripture throughout the book that may relate to the issue the chapter is talking about. At the end of each chapter there is also a section called “Going Deeper” that has several questions relating to the chapter.
Overall I thought it was one of the better books I have read on strengthening marriage from a Christian perspective. It covers a range of topics that I imagine are common obstacles in marriages and gives practical advice about how to resolve those issues and move on. The author makes the point that marriage can be fulfilling and beautiful, even when it’s hard and full of challenges. I personally liked that aspect of the book, as I have read other books in the same genre that don’t seem to acknowledge that marriage can be difficult and although there will be challenges, it’s still beautiful and full of joy.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2017
This book is gold. I've heard the author and her husband speak, and I think they are also gold - in the upside-down kingdom way when Jesus shines through someone's humility and honesty and brokenness.
This book is thoroughly Christian - but I don't mean Christian in a American cultural Christianity sort of way. I mean gospel-centered.
Another refreshing aspect of this book is how the author intentionally sought out perspectives and examples from couples from different ethnic/racial/cultural backgrounds, instead of assuming that everyone reading the book is a white middle class American.
Hoping to read through it again.
This book is thoroughly Christian - but I don't mean Christian in a American cultural Christianity sort of way. I mean gospel-centered.
Another refreshing aspect of this book is how the author intentionally sought out perspectives and examples from couples from different ethnic/racial/cultural backgrounds, instead of assuming that everyone reading the book is a white middle class American.
Hoping to read through it again.
October 11, 2016
This book won't just make you a better marriage partner, but a better human! I've been married 12 years and this is the most relatable marriage book I've ever read. The author does not shy away from sharing vulnerably about her own marriage. I also appreciated the diversity of marriages she surveys in each chapter. Highly recommend!
physical_to-read_stack
February 8, 2018I received my copy free through Goodreads Giveaways.
March 20, 2017
This is a pretty inspirational christian book on marriage. It contains some useful ideas and insights.
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads program. Thanks for sending me this book.
March 3, 2017
Making Marriage Beautiful; Lifelong Love, Joy, and Intimacy Start with You by Dorothy Little Greco is one of the most intentional marriage books I have read. As a pastor's wife and a small group leader, I am often looking for good resources that can help me as I encourage, build up, challenge, and council other wives....and also books that challenge me to continually seek out a godly marriage! I truly appreciate the way Greco addresses how our upbringing affects our marriage, is vulnerable in sharing experiences from her own marriage, and shares insight from other couples as they reveal their own struggles and how they worked to draw closer together. This is a great book in helping you see how God can help transform you in the areas you need to be refined and molded more into His image.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.*
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no obligation to write a review. My honest opinion has been provided without any requirement to write a positive review.*
December 27, 2016
This book is a tool for transformation. Where other marriage books help polish, this one goes mining for soul-deep healing and unity in Christ within every facet of our relationship as husband and wife. It is fearless in taking on the complexities that come with this most intimate, lifelong companionship. Life is hard! Suffering is a fact. "Making Marriage Beautiful" equips and inspires us to lean in and KNOW each other not just in spite of trying circumstances, but through them. It digs into the ugly, messy, maybe scary places and offers healing as we love each other as Jesus loves us. But as I said, where other marriage books "polish" these areas, Greco mines them out. You will not just read about healing, you will find a path to heal, and see the Kingdom come in your marriage.
Greco's honesty and courage in facing each challenge that comes with marital unity head-on is both humbling and empowering. Her own story (so complementarily supplemented with her husband Christopher's first-person accounts) shows firsthand how God ushers in His Kingdom through our surrendered marriages. And as she shares, she also teaches us how we can uniquely do the same as we live and love one another sacrificially. Just reading the table of contents gives you an idea of the journey you are about to embark on!
Greco thoroughly expounds on how marriage takes two broken sinners from different origins, with different personalities and giftings and weakness, and joins them together forever. We (often unknowingly) bring with us wounds, addictions, fears, and besetting sins, and we say "I do" with all innocent sincerity. It doesn't take long before those things rear their heads and as Greco begins in Chapter One, we soon learn marriage will change us. "What do you want that change to look like?"
I so appreciate her sensitivity to special circumstances (interracial marriages, abuse and addiction backgrounds, the effects of our age and season of life, etc) and her sense of humor. I laughed out loud several times as she humbly laughs at herself throughout (and I saw myself in many of her challenges, so I laughed at myself, as well).
Whether newlywed and just beginning the lifelong changing, or ten years in, or many more, if you long to see Christ in yourself and your partner, and His glory revealed in your relationship, this book will be your guide. At the end of each chapter are questions for "Going Deeper." Greco gently challenges us out of our comfort zones and into discussion that brings healing and transformation. I can't wait to re-read with my husband in the coming year, and let the Lord bring beauty from the ashes of our broken places.
Greco's honesty and courage in facing each challenge that comes with marital unity head-on is both humbling and empowering. Her own story (so complementarily supplemented with her husband Christopher's first-person accounts) shows firsthand how God ushers in His Kingdom through our surrendered marriages. And as she shares, she also teaches us how we can uniquely do the same as we live and love one another sacrificially. Just reading the table of contents gives you an idea of the journey you are about to embark on!
Greco thoroughly expounds on how marriage takes two broken sinners from different origins, with different personalities and giftings and weakness, and joins them together forever. We (often unknowingly) bring with us wounds, addictions, fears, and besetting sins, and we say "I do" with all innocent sincerity. It doesn't take long before those things rear their heads and as Greco begins in Chapter One, we soon learn marriage will change us. "What do you want that change to look like?"
I so appreciate her sensitivity to special circumstances (interracial marriages, abuse and addiction backgrounds, the effects of our age and season of life, etc) and her sense of humor. I laughed out loud several times as she humbly laughs at herself throughout (and I saw myself in many of her challenges, so I laughed at myself, as well).
Whether newlywed and just beginning the lifelong changing, or ten years in, or many more, if you long to see Christ in yourself and your partner, and His glory revealed in your relationship, this book will be your guide. At the end of each chapter are questions for "Going Deeper." Greco gently challenges us out of our comfort zones and into discussion that brings healing and transformation. I can't wait to re-read with my husband in the coming year, and let the Lord bring beauty from the ashes of our broken places.
February 10, 2017
About the Book:
What makes a marriage beautiful? Honesty? Compatibility? Physical and emotional intimacy? All of these are important, but there’s one component that determines the quality and longevity of a marriage more than anything else: a willingness to grow.
Because a wedding joins together two imperfect people, all couples experience disappointment, conflict, and pain. How husbands and wives respond to these challenges determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have.
Making Marriage Beautiful reveals how the pursuit of Christ results in profound transformation for both the individual and the marriage. Rather than offering clichés and formulas, Greco relies on candor, humor, and real life stories to bring encouragement and wisdom to all couples, regardless of whether they have been married four weeks or forty years.
My Review:
Many couples start to experience marriage issues early on in marriage and they set those problems on to continue with life and daily tasks only for those same problems to keep resurfacing and before long they never go away. Even couples that have been married for awhile don't know how to extinguish said problems and it usually will result in divorce, which goes completely against God's plans.
We are not wired to make everyone around us miserably happy it isn't our jobs to do that. It's God's job to fulfill that need in us. We go into marriage thinking that now my life is complete everything will fall into place and be "easy" now. This is just not realistic expectations and it's wrong to put that kind of weight on another human being.
In Making Marriage Beautiful, the author explains that those things that lie in wait just under the surface need to be dealt with right away and that it is not healthy to just let it sit on the back burner. The author shares some of her own experiences with the readers in a way to open up the window into her own marriage. Marriage isn't always candlelight and roses and this author shows you the ugly side of marriage the one that no one wants you to see.
A beautiful marriage book that shows the true side of marriage and how to keep it beautiful.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
What makes a marriage beautiful? Honesty? Compatibility? Physical and emotional intimacy? All of these are important, but there’s one component that determines the quality and longevity of a marriage more than anything else: a willingness to grow.
Because a wedding joins together two imperfect people, all couples experience disappointment, conflict, and pain. How husbands and wives respond to these challenges determines the kind of people they will become and the kind of marriage they will have.
Making Marriage Beautiful reveals how the pursuit of Christ results in profound transformation for both the individual and the marriage. Rather than offering clichés and formulas, Greco relies on candor, humor, and real life stories to bring encouragement and wisdom to all couples, regardless of whether they have been married four weeks or forty years.
My Review:
Many couples start to experience marriage issues early on in marriage and they set those problems on to continue with life and daily tasks only for those same problems to keep resurfacing and before long they never go away. Even couples that have been married for awhile don't know how to extinguish said problems and it usually will result in divorce, which goes completely against God's plans.
We are not wired to make everyone around us miserably happy it isn't our jobs to do that. It's God's job to fulfill that need in us. We go into marriage thinking that now my life is complete everything will fall into place and be "easy" now. This is just not realistic expectations and it's wrong to put that kind of weight on another human being.
In Making Marriage Beautiful, the author explains that those things that lie in wait just under the surface need to be dealt with right away and that it is not healthy to just let it sit on the back burner. The author shares some of her own experiences with the readers in a way to open up the window into her own marriage. Marriage isn't always candlelight and roses and this author shows you the ugly side of marriage the one that no one wants you to see.
A beautiful marriage book that shows the true side of marriage and how to keep it beautiful.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
February 15, 2017
With years of personal experience, as well as counseling experience, the author writes about how to truly make your marriage a beautiful place. She begins and continues through the entire book stressing the importance of having a grounded and personal connection with Christ. This is vital to having a beautiful marriage. She also places a lot of importance on growing and being willing to compromise or change as the needs fit. If a marriage isn't changing and flowing, it's dying.
This was a beautifully written book. The author brings stories and experiences in to add depth to the thought she is talking about. This makes the book read like a story instead of a dry list of facts. She shares personal experiences that authenticate her views. While realistic, she also paints a wonderful picture of what a truly beautiful marriage is all about. I would definitely recommend this book to newlyweds or "old" married people, like me. It's well worth the read.
I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.
This was a beautifully written book. The author brings stories and experiences in to add depth to the thought she is talking about. This makes the book read like a story instead of a dry list of facts. She shares personal experiences that authenticate her views. While realistic, she also paints a wonderful picture of what a truly beautiful marriage is all about. I would definitely recommend this book to newlyweds or "old" married people, like me. It's well worth the read.
I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. All thoughts expressed are my own.
December 30, 2016
I loved this insightful book on marriage. Author Dorothy Greco writes with transparency and humor. Because she wants to help others, she and her husband bravely share their own not-always-perfect endeavors to have a beautiful marriage.
Greco hits the nail on the head when she writes, "What differentiates a loving, joyful, intimate marriage from a disappointing, frustrating one is the willingness and commitment to be changed, to say yes to God’s transforming work, and to become increasingly holy with each passing year." So true. And yet this is what we struggle with most. We would much rather pray, “Lord, change my husband” or “Lord, change my wife” than “Lord, change me.” But the author encourages all of us to say yes to God’s transforming power. To not only admit our failures to our spouses to receive their forgiveness but to confess our sin to God and receive His grace. Making Marriage Beautiful reminds us that we all need changing and that marriage is often the tool God uses to continually transform us to the image of Christ.
I wish I had had this book when my husband and I began our life together. The chapters on differences in family cultures and expectations would have been especially helpful! Although we have worked through these issues now, having this book would have made the ride through the bumpy waters of early marriage smoother. Greco encourages all of us to examine the preferences we have “stockpiled” and how these preferences may affect unfair expectations we place on our spouses. She also reminds us to celebrate our spouses “otherness.”
Whether you’ve been married three weeks or thirty years, this book will help your marriage become more beautiful.
Greco hits the nail on the head when she writes, "What differentiates a loving, joyful, intimate marriage from a disappointing, frustrating one is the willingness and commitment to be changed, to say yes to God’s transforming work, and to become increasingly holy with each passing year." So true. And yet this is what we struggle with most. We would much rather pray, “Lord, change my husband” or “Lord, change my wife” than “Lord, change me.” But the author encourages all of us to say yes to God’s transforming power. To not only admit our failures to our spouses to receive their forgiveness but to confess our sin to God and receive His grace. Making Marriage Beautiful reminds us that we all need changing and that marriage is often the tool God uses to continually transform us to the image of Christ.
I wish I had had this book when my husband and I began our life together. The chapters on differences in family cultures and expectations would have been especially helpful! Although we have worked through these issues now, having this book would have made the ride through the bumpy waters of early marriage smoother. Greco encourages all of us to examine the preferences we have “stockpiled” and how these preferences may affect unfair expectations we place on our spouses. She also reminds us to celebrate our spouses “otherness.”
Whether you’ve been married three weeks or thirty years, this book will help your marriage become more beautiful.
May 6, 2017
The gradual transformation of our inner landscapes allows us to embrace each other in our flawed states and offer an imperfect, yet oh-so-sweet, love. it's mysterious but true that the very process of loving sacrificially leads to transformation, not only in the lover but also in the one loved.
Making marriage Beautiful is doing marriage sacrificially. It is the same way in living the gospel beautifully, sacrifice. In relationships, there is always a sacrifice. We can sacrifice our sinful desires for our families. It is always a choice. This marriage book focuses on sacrifice of the Godly kind that brings glory to God and transformation to us. Marriage is the example of the Gospel because of the relationship and how we respond to each other. Are we selfish or do we serve?
Our marriage reveals the image of God to the world.
In our marriages we go thru seasons of life- things get hard, live is not fair. Do we focus on what is fair or what is obedient? Because marriage is so much like the gospel, we must always have a attitude of repentance and grace. Is our marriage of redemption or a prison?
The text covers many things that can bring despair to a marriage. Expectations, listening well, addictions, enabling and forgiveness, and our childhood. Each of these items, goes into detail how it can be destructive and how we can take each of these items to make opportunities for making our marriages beautiful that reflect the gospel. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank you to David C Cook and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Making marriage Beautiful is doing marriage sacrificially. It is the same way in living the gospel beautifully, sacrifice. In relationships, there is always a sacrifice. We can sacrifice our sinful desires for our families. It is always a choice. This marriage book focuses on sacrifice of the Godly kind that brings glory to God and transformation to us. Marriage is the example of the Gospel because of the relationship and how we respond to each other. Are we selfish or do we serve?
Our marriage reveals the image of God to the world.
In our marriages we go thru seasons of life- things get hard, live is not fair. Do we focus on what is fair or what is obedient? Because marriage is so much like the gospel, we must always have a attitude of repentance and grace. Is our marriage of redemption or a prison?
The text covers many things that can bring despair to a marriage. Expectations, listening well, addictions, enabling and forgiveness, and our childhood. Each of these items, goes into detail how it can be destructive and how we can take each of these items to make opportunities for making our marriages beautiful that reflect the gospel. Highly recommend.
A Special Thank you to David C Cook and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
October 15, 2016
Making Marriage Beautiful: Lifelong Love, Joy, and Intimacy Start with YouYou know those marriage books that make you feel like you could never attain to the other-worldly saintliness of the author's marriage? This is not that book. Here, Dorothy Greco sits down with you in a warm cafe and opens her life for you to read. She shares her gritty wisdom about everything from unrealistic expectations of one's spouse (who, me?) to the gift that community is for couples. Then she gently but firmly invites you to make deep, life-giving changes. She never forgets that change is hard, so as she refills your latte she offers stories from her own marriage that will have you laughing out loud and will encourage you that we're all in this together. Most importantly, she has this crazy belief that Jesus Christ is in this messy space with us too, empowering the change to which she calls us. I love the ethnic and other diversity represented in the interviews with couples at the close of each chapter, and the rich insight into Scripture. I just wish that cafe were real and on my street. I'd have a standing date with Dorothy Greco to keep gleaning her wisdom on marriage and the life of faith. Loved this book!
January 13, 2017
I haven't read a marriage book as honest and deep as this one since "As For Me and My House" by Walter Wangerin. Greco doesn't give just cutesy suggestions for spending time with your spouse. She encourages readers to take a hard look at themselves, their past, and their hangups and how each might be getting in the way of having a more beautiful marriage. For example, this is just one line that stood out to me: "when we have the same conflicts over and over again, it's likely that there is something deeper going on that will provide an opportunity for healing if we can stop reacting and start exploring what's driving our broken patterns."
This isn't a quick read. But it's an important one. What also pleased me about this book is that it wasn't written by a man (why is it that if a marriage book isn't written by a couple, it has to be written by only men), but by a woman. And while, with permission, she shares some of her husband's struggles, she does so with grace and compassion. Greco also includes other couples' stories as illustrations.
In full disclosure: I received a advance reading copy of this book from the author.
This isn't a quick read. But it's an important one. What also pleased me about this book is that it wasn't written by a man (why is it that if a marriage book isn't written by a couple, it has to be written by only men), but by a woman. And while, with permission, she shares some of her husband's struggles, she does so with grace and compassion. Greco also includes other couples' stories as illustrations.
In full disclosure: I received a advance reading copy of this book from the author.
January 5, 2018
This book is like functional medicine for marriage. Rather than prescribing simplistic answers to relationship issues, author Dorothy Greco (along with her husband and a diverse group of couples) offers a thoughtful, holistic way of strengthening marriage from the inside out. Making Marriage Beautiful encourages relational health by addressing issues in earlier development that lead to emotional/spiritual weaknesses in marriage. I was particularly impressed at Greco’s attention to disordered attachments as a cause of many relational ills. This book encourages the reader to embrace the uniqueness of both self and spouse, to tune in with the Lord and each other to navigate disappointment, to offer tenderness and humor in times of tension, and to invest in community that will speak the Gospel into the marriage. I recommend this book not only to couples who are struggling, but for those who want to work on the ongoing health and happiness of their marriage. The Grecos are refreshingly forthright in the examples they share, and I’m grateful they’ve put the hard-earned wisdom from their own marriage, and their many years of counseling other couples, into book form.
December 19, 2016
I don't often read Christian marriage books because they can seem overly simplistic. So much about marriage is messy, but it's hard to write a whole book about that.
Enter Dorothy Greco's new book. Far from being simplistic, Greco offers real hope for marriages. She shares not only how she and her husband have grown in their marriage, but she is honest about their struggles. I especially enjoyed Chapters 2-4 that explore expectations rooted in families of origin and in gender.
In addition to Greco's compelling writing, the book includes quotes from her husband, Christopher Greco, and stories from different couples about how they navigated the topics in this book. Greco takes seriously the cultural and ethnic values brought to marriage and is careful not to assume that Christian marriage is the same as White, affluent, suburban marriage.
Greco captures the complexity of marriage, challenges readers to grow, and gives readers hope that growth and beauty is possible.
* I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Enter Dorothy Greco's new book. Far from being simplistic, Greco offers real hope for marriages. She shares not only how she and her husband have grown in their marriage, but she is honest about their struggles. I especially enjoyed Chapters 2-4 that explore expectations rooted in families of origin and in gender.
In addition to Greco's compelling writing, the book includes quotes from her husband, Christopher Greco, and stories from different couples about how they navigated the topics in this book. Greco takes seriously the cultural and ethnic values brought to marriage and is careful not to assume that Christian marriage is the same as White, affluent, suburban marriage.
Greco captures the complexity of marriage, challenges readers to grow, and gives readers hope that growth and beauty is possible.
* I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2016
My husband and I serve on our church's marriage ministry, which means we've read A LOT of books about marriage. And this book stands out for several reasons. First, we can't remember a book about marriage that was so frank about the need for the Holy Spirit to convict, encourage, and change spouses so that they and their marriages can thrive.
Second, we were happy to see frank discussions of sin. Too many books we have read focus on techniques, most of which can be helpful. But without acknowledging that we all sin, and too often sin against our spouse, there is little hope for transformation. Dorothy's discussion of sin is not moralizing, but rather honest and even encouraging.
Finally, we loved the examples from different couples - many of whom were not White, and who discussed the ways that culture plays out in their marriage. The couples shared in their own words, and it added another layer of depth, humor and hope to the book.
Second, we were happy to see frank discussions of sin. Too many books we have read focus on techniques, most of which can be helpful. But without acknowledging that we all sin, and too often sin against our spouse, there is little hope for transformation. Dorothy's discussion of sin is not moralizing, but rather honest and even encouraging.
Finally, we loved the examples from different couples - many of whom were not White, and who discussed the ways that culture plays out in their marriage. The couples shared in their own words, and it added another layer of depth, humor and hope to the book.
May 28, 2017
I have read this book from cover to cover, and I highly recommend it! The author speaks from years of experience co-ministering to Christian couples with her husband, Christopher. There is a scarcity of marriage books authored by women, and Dorothy Greco is a welcome change to this trend. In addition, her husband adds a first-person “man’s perspective” with comments interspersed throughout the book. Whereas many marriage books promote “happiness,” this book avoids such shallow promises, instead focusing on the hard work, commitment, and true beauty and fulfillment of a marriage centered on Christ. In addition, Greco is not one to merely spout truisms wrapped in Bible verses. Instead, she offers a genuinely vulnerable look into her own marriage, letting the reader connect with someone who is completely relatable and real.
December 29, 2016
My husband and I have done marriage counseling for multiple couples throughout our years in ministry, and I wish we had had this book to offer ten years ago!
Dorothy Greco does a wonderful job of writing about both the glories and the challenges of marriage through a Biblically-based lens that is both candid and refreshing. The real-life stories that she offers between herself and her husband, along with the stories of other married couples who faced--and overcame--challenges in their own marriages were engaging, helpful, and encouraging.
As someone who has read many marriage books, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is married or who is contemplating marriage. It's a great read.
Dorothy Greco does a wonderful job of writing about both the glories and the challenges of marriage through a Biblically-based lens that is both candid and refreshing. The real-life stories that she offers between herself and her husband, along with the stories of other married couples who faced--and overcame--challenges in their own marriages were engaging, helpful, and encouraging.
As someone who has read many marriage books, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is married or who is contemplating marriage. It's a great read.
January 7, 2017
In Making Marriage Beautiful, Dorothy Greco dives into some deep, tough stuff while simultaneously making you feel like you are sitting across the table at a coffee shop having a chat. I guess that would be a totally one-sided chat, since she gets to do all the talking But seriously, this book reminded me of the importance of staying connected to my husband. It made me thankful for the relationship we have, and it encouraged me to not be content with the status-quo, but to do the hard work of loving each other like Jesus loves us. She speaks to so many different aspects of the marriage relationship and is open and transparent about challenges she and her husband have faced. Well worth reading, underlining and keeping handy as an encouragement and guide.
February 9, 2017
This is my first book by this author and I am glad that I had the chance to read this. It’s very well done. She gives you a the ups and downs on marriage. The happy and the challenging times.
The real life stories that she has from other people and herself who had a overcome there challenges in there own marriages made it very helpful. This wonderful book has 11 chapters and each chapter focus on a different topic. Which makes it easy to read and understand better.
I wish I had this book 3 1/2 years ago when I married my husband. I am glad that this book is out there for us now to help us out.
I definitely would recommend this book to everyone married couple out there. You will be surprised how much this will help.
I received a ARC of this book to give a honest review
The real life stories that she has from other people and herself who had a overcome there challenges in there own marriages made it very helpful. This wonderful book has 11 chapters and each chapter focus on a different topic. Which makes it easy to read and understand better.
I wish I had this book 3 1/2 years ago when I married my husband. I am glad that this book is out there for us now to help us out.
I definitely would recommend this book to everyone married couple out there. You will be surprised how much this will help.
I received a ARC of this book to give a honest review
February 22, 2017
Dorothy and her husband Christopher have been married for 20 years. She openly states in the intro she’s no marriage expert and does not have a perfect marriage. I love that she laid it on the table. Her open honesty makes me trust her writing and experiences more.
Making Marriage Beautiful is an easy read with mind opening, thought provoking scenarios. It’s like she surveyed her relationship (pre and post nuptials) with the knowledge and maturity she has now, recognized the errors and gave suggestions on how to fix them. Does that make sense? Kinda like “if I knew then what I know now”.
P.S. I received this book for free in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own.
Making Marriage Beautiful is an easy read with mind opening, thought provoking scenarios. It’s like she surveyed her relationship (pre and post nuptials) with the knowledge and maturity she has now, recognized the errors and gave suggestions on how to fix them. Does that make sense? Kinda like “if I knew then what I know now”.
P.S. I received this book for free in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own.
January 19, 2017
Making Marriage Beautiful makes for easy reading, without over-simplifying the complexities of married life. It’s personally intimate in the way the author and her husband, Christopher, share about their marriage, yet recognizes diversity with interviews of eight couples of different ages, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Read my complete review How to Make Your Marriage Beautiful.
March 4, 2017
"Making Marriage Beautiful" is such a brutally honest and compelling book. This book goes straight for deep soul healing and unity in Christ within every part of our relationship as husband and wife.
*Disclaimer*
I received a copy of this book free to review. I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.
*Disclaimer*
I received a copy of this book free to review. I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.
October 5, 2016
I don't read a whole lot of marriage books - like one every couple of years - but when I do, it's like a restart. Although completely generalizing, her writing is objective enough for men and vulnerable enough for women. And that's perhaps what I appreciate the most: this is the first (Christian) book written by a woman for both men and women. Read it!
November 2, 2016
Greco writes with insight and honesty about the gifts and challenges of marriage. What sets Making Marriage Beautiful apart from the pack of books about marriage is the emphasis on what it really takes to grow toward maturity in this primary relationship. Greco's relatable style offers hard-won wisdom to those who've been married for 6 months, or those who've been together for decades.
December 2, 2016
Making Marriage Beautiful: Lifelong Love,Joy, and Intimacy Start is written with such vulnerability and invites the reader into truth about how brokenness and vulnerability can bring beauty and fulfillment into relationships.The stories shared brought humor and tears and much appreciation for the courage to go deeper and take the risk involved with sacrifice,confession and love.
April 4, 2017
Read it twice. Very helpful and hopeful book!
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