Tag Archives: speech

Friends Express Their Feelings to Each Other

A close friend had been sick and in the hospital and was rapidly declining.  My wife and I went to visit him.   We didn’t know it would be the last time we would ever see him when we walked into … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Attention, close family, communication, emotions, Encouragement, Family Issues, friendship, Gratitude, Growing marriage, Happy marriage, Kindness, Married and Friends, Speech, Time | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Things That Strengthened our Marriage – An Open Heart

Today I walked inside a little church in a tiny town in Tennessee.   I served there in the fall of 1977, almost forty years ago.  I reminisced about precious people I met there. One special place was outdoors where I … Continue reading

Posted in bearing burdens, communication, Love, Marriage, transparency | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Parsing Her Words

Years ago I was driving through Chattanooga, Tennessee listening to one of my favorite preachers, Adrian Rogers.   He was telling a story about him and his wife when they had a disagreement. In the middle of their “discussion” Joyce, his … Continue reading

Posted in adversity, Affirmation, arguing, attitude, Change, character growth, close family, closeness, comfort, communication, Complaining, conflict, conversation, Criticism, differences in men and women, disagreements, Discouragement, Encouragement, familiy issues, family, God's grace, griping, Husband, Kindness, Marriage, Men, Mercy, Patience, Personal Growth, perspective, Speech, Wife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mistakes I Made in My Marriage – Being Slow to Initiate Reconciliation

I had ordered some material that was important to me and had waited for six weeks for it to arrive.    Finally it came in the mail and I placed it on the piano in the living room to go through … Continue reading

Posted in advice, Anger, arguing, attitude, Bitterness, character growth, close family, closeness, communication, conflict, conversation, disagreements, familiy issues, family, Forgiveness, Love, Marriage, Personal Growth, Pride, Repentence, Speech, spiritual growth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Complaining Church Members

As a boy that grew up attending church services regularly the area that hurt me the most was hearing harsh comments directed at our pastor in business meetings.   It didn’t happen every time, but it did occur too often. I … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Anger, arguing, Bitterness, Children, church, Complaining, confidentiality, conflict, Criticism, disagreements, familiy issues, family | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bitterness, a Prelude to other Troubles

Have you ever sat in a restaurant while waiting for your meal and taken note of those around you?    I’m especially fascinated by the dynamic of couples and how they tend to change as they grow older.   You see it … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Criticism, Family Issues, Forgiveness, Revenge, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Power of a Personal Greeting

When I was fourteen years old we had a guest speaker at our church for a youth banquet.  I met him before the event and we talked briefly.   He was very friendly and gracious.   After it was over I told … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Children, Encouragement, Family Issues, Father, Gratitude, Marriage, Mother, Parenting, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Sacred Greeting

I received a call from one of my sons today and he was laughing so hard he could hardly talk.    He had recalled one of my funny sayings from years earlier and the sole purpose of his call was just … Continue reading

Posted in Affirmation, Family Issues, Marriage, Parenting, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Growing a Close Family

I married someone that is the polar opposite of myself.   Paula is engaging, expressive and enjoys meeting people.   I am reserved, less expressive, and tend to pull away from crowds.  Neither personality is wrong; it’s the way God wired us.    … Continue reading

Posted in Encouragement, Family Issues, Friends, Kindness, Love, Marriage, Parenting, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Broken Promises Produce Anger in Children

My wife taught me a valuable lesson when our children were very young.   Sometimes the kids would ask me about going somewhere or doing something special and I would think it was a great idea.   So, my response was, “Yeah, … Continue reading

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Children, Faithfulness, Family Issues, Father, Forgiveness, Lying, Mother, Parenting, Speech | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment