Focus on the Family with Jim Daly Finding New Ways to Thrive in Your Marriage (Part 2 of 2)
Sep 26, 2025
Dr. Gary Chapman, an esteemed author and marriage counselor, shares invaluable insights for enriching marriages. He discusses the importance of communication and the transformative power of three simple questions. Chapman contrasts a contract mindset with a covenant approach, emphasizing lifelong commitment. He advocates for personal accountability before seeking change in a spouse and explains how sincere apologies, followed by loving actions, can heal relationships. Practical exercises using the five senses are suggested to help couples reconnect amidst busy lives.
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Choose Covenant Over Contract
- Treat marriage as a covenant focused on enriching your spouse, not a contract that expects reciprocation for happiness.
- Invest lifelong commitment and seek growth resources when marriage gets worse, not escape.
Covenant Focuses On The Other
- Covenant marriage is framed to benefit the other person and aim for mutual growth over a lifetime.
- Entering marriage with service and enrichment as goals shifts focus from self-centered expectations.
Regret Follows Quick Exits
- Most couples regret divorcing and later wish they had fought for their marriage.
- Leaving often repeats the same patterns into subsequent marriages instead of solving root problems.
