Tips for the Newly Married

[LightHearted]

What tips can we share with the newly married?


They can be cliches, or things that you have learned in your marriage, such as:


Never go to bed angry.

Say "I love you" daily.

Always put the toilet seat down.

Have a "date night" with your husband/wife every week/month.

 

[DZoolander]

Behave yourself.

That's about it.

 

[ido]

My dad says two things:

Guys - You'll have a much happier marriage if you learn to just say, "Yes dear" early on.

A newlywed couple will have more fights and more sex in the first year of marriage than they will for the rest of their married lives.

 

[LovesToBless]

Pray. Read the Bible. Do those things individually as well as together. I mean it in the most un-cliche way possible.

I attended a marriage conference last Winter and heard a lot of interesting speakers. Gary Smalley happened to be one of them and a couple things he said has really stuck with me.

He said he was married for 36 years and kept trying to get his wife to exercise regularly, as he did himself. (Keep in mind this guy writes books about marriage and is famous in Christian circles) Finally...after all those years, he realized he was trying to play "Holy Spirit" in his wife's life...and he left the subject alone. He prayed for her, but no longer brought it up.

Well, what do you know...he noticed his wife took up running...all on her own!

This next part touched me even more.

He also mentioned that he begs God to help him do the right thing and he did literally use that word beg. He used a physical illustration of a sign on cardboard...like you see homeless people holding up on the side of a road (Like "will work for food") and he said that is his attitude with God.... "God, please help me!!! I'm unable to do this myself, I need your help and have your Holy Spirit flowing through me to do the right thing."

The idea really resonated with me, and I've been trying to pray along the same lines. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we need God to help us daily do the right things. Sometimes in our own selfishness we don't want to do the right thing, and yet, God will help us to if we seek Him.

 

[LightHearted]

Thanks everyone! Any other tips?

This one really made me laugh.

A newlywed couple will have more fights and more sex in the first year of marriage than they will for the rest of their married lives.

 

[Elizabeth1558]

Before my husband and I got married, our pastor suggested that for Valentines day or for our anniversary we each purchase a book that deals with marriage and/or communication for one another, and of course something else as well . It was required of us to read Fighting for Your Marriage to discuss during our pre-marriage meetings; it is an interesting book, though much of it is common sense. To be honest, I cannot see my husband reading these kinds of books; he just isn't a reader. However, I think that I will give it a try. So far we've only been married for 3 months...and going strong!

It is cliche but communication really is key to any relationship.