Taking Inventory
Another year is upon us; and with comes another round of empty promises of change in the form of resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about change! I believe that is what the Christian walk is all about; allowing the Holy Spirit to show us what habits and behaviors we need to let go of and what actions we need to replace them with.
So, what promises have you made this year? Are you going to stop drinking so many soft drinks, quit smoking, or was it to lose the twenty pounds you gained over Thanksgiving? I believe those are important resolutions; our physical health is important, but what about our emotional health?
It has been said, “The greatest gift you can give your child is to love his mother.” I think that would also ring true for women loving their child’s father. If the parents are divorced you can replace the word love with respect. I believe that research will back me up when I say that children who come from homes where the parents love and respect each other have higher self esteem and fewer emotional problems.
Unfortunately, most couples don’t focus on keeping their relationship strong. As a counselor, it is frustrating when a couple walks into my office in a “last ditch effort to save their marriage.” I can’t say that it never works and marriages aren’t salvaged. What I am saying is that it sure would be a lot easier for the couple if they came into the counseling office at the first signs of trouble instead of waiting until one of them threatens to divorce the other!
Have you taken the time to make sure your marriage is functioning at its best? Most men have their vehicles checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is working properly. They don’t wait for the engine to lock up before they change the oil, but they will wait for their marriage to fail before they consider getting help.
Rate the following questions on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best:
How happy am I in my marriage?
My spouse meets my emotional needs.
My spouse considers me before themselves.
My spouse listens to me when I talk.
We will stop right there for now. When you are done rating your marriage, ask your spouse to do the same thing. Then sit down and compare your answers. Be willing to hear about areas they would like you to work on. If you find yourselves at an impasse, set an appointment with a counselor and get your marriage “tuned up.”
This year let’s make resolutions that count. Take an inventory of the most important relationship you have, and do what it takes to make it even better!
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling. You can reach him at (770) 456-5547.
So, what promises have you made this year? Are you going to stop drinking so many soft drinks, quit smoking, or was it to lose the twenty pounds you gained over Thanksgiving? I believe those are important resolutions; our physical health is important, but what about our emotional health?
It has been said, “The greatest gift you can give your child is to love his mother.” I think that would also ring true for women loving their child’s father. If the parents are divorced you can replace the word love with respect. I believe that research will back me up when I say that children who come from homes where the parents love and respect each other have higher self esteem and fewer emotional problems.
Unfortunately, most couples don’t focus on keeping their relationship strong. As a counselor, it is frustrating when a couple walks into my office in a “last ditch effort to save their marriage.” I can’t say that it never works and marriages aren’t salvaged. What I am saying is that it sure would be a lot easier for the couple if they came into the counseling office at the first signs of trouble instead of waiting until one of them threatens to divorce the other!
Have you taken the time to make sure your marriage is functioning at its best? Most men have their vehicles checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is working properly. They don’t wait for the engine to lock up before they change the oil, but they will wait for their marriage to fail before they consider getting help.
Rate the following questions on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best:
How happy am I in my marriage?
My spouse meets my emotional needs.
My spouse considers me before themselves.
My spouse listens to me when I talk.
We will stop right there for now. When you are done rating your marriage, ask your spouse to do the same thing. Then sit down and compare your answers. Be willing to hear about areas they would like you to work on. If you find yourselves at an impasse, set an appointment with a counselor and get your marriage “tuned up.”
This year let’s make resolutions that count. Take an inventory of the most important relationship you have, and do what it takes to make it even better!
Johnny Walker is a Christian Counselor and the founder of Family Works Counseling. You can reach him at (770) 456-5547.
posted by Johnny Walker at 9:58 PM
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