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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