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Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love by Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley (General Editors) Book Review


 
 
In Ready to Wed, Focus on the Family has put together a collection of authors sharing in vast details about what they have learned throughout their marriage. The main authors and editors are Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley. The other authors are Tedd Cunningham, Scott Stanley, Gary Smalley, Joe White, Juli Slattery, Joshua Straub, John Trent, Bill and Pam Farrel, Susan and Dale Mathis, Scott and Bethany Palmer, and Tim Popadic. The book is divided into two sections and each chapter is written by different authors.

 

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley began the book by sharing how God described marriage in the Bible. God declared that it isn’t good for man to be alone. We are instructed that a man must leave his father and mother and be one flesh with his wife and cleave to his wife. They also revealed some of the top reason people get married. Some of these are: “to marry their soul mate, get their emotional needs met, raise kids and have a family, fulfill sexual needs and desires, financial security”, and much more. It’s critical that we marry for the precise reasons and build a solid marriage.

 

One of my favorite chapters was, “Honoring You All the Days of My Life” by Gary Smalley. This book discussed the power of honoring our spouse and how husbands are instructed to love their wife like himself and cherish her (Ephesians 5:33). I especially loved how Gary revealed that he wrote a list about everything he cherished about his wife and when he was frustrated or mad at his wife he would pull out his list to remind himself of everything he loved about his wife. He also included a helpful list to help readers begin their on cherished list. Another helpful benefit in this chapter was a nourished list that included a list from both genders explaining how they feel loved by their spouse.

 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is engaged or married and they are seeking to build a solid marriage with Jesus at the center. I immensely liked how the book had so many different authors who are expects in their field and they have massive knowledge about marriage. Even though I’m single and not married, this book is one I will reread with my future spouse and I believe it will impact our marriage and help build it on a solid foundation with Jesus being at the center. I really enjoyed Bill and Pam Farrel chapters about expectation in marriage and this taught me that everyone has huge expectations when it comes to what their spouse is supposed to do for them. It has caused to wonder what my expectations are and how to not hold my future bride to a too high of a standard. If you’re looking for an excellent book about marriage, then read this one!

 

“Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.”

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Ready to Wed, then check it out on Amazon.com:

 

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