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<p>Wow! Our Daring to Love is gradually coming to a close. I have been so encouraged to walk through this with you all. So far we have: 1. Resolved to say nothing negative2. Done unexpected gestures of kindness3. Established rules to &#8220;fight by&#8221;4. Prepared a special dinner or &#8220;date night&#8221;5. Committed ourselves to love&#8230;even if &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/02/03/do-you-feel-like-giving-up-on-marriage/">Con

<p>My deepest apologies for such a late go at the blog. We have been bombarded with life. Let me just give you a glimpse into where we&#8217;ve been&#8230; Drum roll&#8230;. Happy 90th Birthday, Ethel! Isn&#8217;t she a doll? Yes, this past weekend we celebrated my grandmother&#8217;s big 90th milestone. Just ten more years until she&#8217;s &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/02/01/reflections-day-five-forgive-big-sigh/">Continue reading

<p>There we sat, my friend Cynthia and I. Sitting in cold, stale chairs in her pediatrician&#8217;s waiting area. Five other families surrounded us. Sniffling children. A receptionist at the front desk and a quiet television mounted in a corner. My phone, the ringer on high, blasts from my purse. &#8220;Hello.&#8221; It was Tracie. I talk &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/29/love-dare-5-forgive-big-sigh/">Continue reading <span class=

<p>I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. John 13:34From both of us&#8230;Brent and Becky:Marriage is a promise to love unconditionally. For better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live&#8230;These &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/26/love-dare-5-popping-the-question/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr

<p>&#8220;If you miss the level of intimacy you once shared with your spouse, one of the best ways to unlock their heart again is by making a commitment to know them. Study them.&#8221; &#8211; Dare to Love In the Gospel of Mark, a leper approaches Jesus. He kneels before the Lord and asks to be &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/25/love-dare-4-compassion-and-popcorn/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></span></p

<p>&#8220;The deepest most heart breaking damage you&#8217;ll ever do (or have done) to your marriage will most likely occur during the thick of conflict.&#8221; &#8211; S. Kendrick Dare #3: Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/24/reflections-day-three-how-to-fight-fair/">Continue reading <sp

<p>Another day, another group of women, another lesson learned: I sat at a baby shower, eating a piece of chocolate cake and enjoying a child-free, Spring morning with a room full of other child-free mommies. Nice. All the husbands watching kiddos while we celebrated a new mom and baby-to-be. In the midst finger foods, laughing, &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/20/love-dare-3-why-i-dont-eat-at-hardees-and-a-giveaway/">Continue readin

<p>Reflections from Becky: Today was special. We walk by faith. Yes. Not by sight. But today, I got a little peek. Brent can not keep a secret. Never once have I not known my Christmas present. Never once have I been surprised on my birthday. And that&#8217;s OK. Although, I do love surprise parties. Ahem. &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/19/reflections-day-two-beans-and-balboa/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span><

<p>Four years ago, I remember going to a girls night out with a friend. I didn&#8217;t know many people. And today, I hardly remember any of the ladies names, I don&#8217;t remember what I wore that night, I can&#8217;t recall what we had to eat or what night of the week it was. But I &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/18/love-dare-2-the-power-of-influence/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></span></p>

<p>Love Dare #1: Resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. -S. Kendrick Reflections from Brent: Two thoughts from today. 1) Coffee Mug 2) Forest Fires1) Coffee Mug &#8211; Every morning I come downstairs and open the dishwasher searching for &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/16/reflections-day-1-forest-fires-and-unmet-expectations/">Continue

<p>You Can Lead Your HeartBe completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 &#8220;Moment by moment our culture bombards us with different messages about love. &#8216;Follow your heart&#8217; is the default advice of many books, movies, songs, plays and television. Sound familiar? Yes, but it is wrong nonetheless.&#8221; &#8220;Following &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/15/dare-to-love-day-o

<p>&#8220;The Scriptures say that God designed and created marriage as a good thing. It is a beautiful, priceless gift. If we are teachable, we will learn to do the one thing that is most important in marriage &#8211; to love.&#8221; &#8211; Stephen Kenrick, The Love Dare When I was seven-years-old, I remember my mother calling &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/13/marriage-the-big-announcement/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav"

<p>Marriage is hard. Even the strongest, most godly marriages are put to the test, challenged and opposed. Now, I am not a devil around every door believin&#8217; kind of gal, but I will say this &#8211; I firmly believe that the institution of marriage is high priority on our enemy&#8217;s list of things to devour. &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2011/01/11/marriage-what-have-we-done-and-a-giveaway/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav"

<p>&#8220;Brent, have you seen my new Sharpie?&#8221; &#8220;No.&#8221; &#8220;I just had two Sharpies in this drawer.&#8221; &#8220;Let me check my bag. But I don&#8217;t remember putting one in there.&#8221; Brent grabbed his backpack and started to scramble. One by one, he starts to pull out all my good pens. And TWO new Sharpies. Brent grins, &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2010/09/01/to-the-sharpie-snatcher/">Continue reading <span cla

<p>A friend asked me the other week about my marriage. She said, &#8220;It just seems like you and Brent have a really good marriage. What is it that makes you two so happy together?&#8221; Pause. That&#8217;s kind of loaded question. Well, the correct Sunday School answer would be &#8211; Jesus. By grace, Brent loves Christ&#8230;.I &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2010/05/30/marriage-is-not-5050/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&r

<p>I feel like I&#8217;ve been to the mountain top. This past week, the Lord did some major cleaning up and moving out &#8211; insecurity, pent up sin and just down right sadness. I AM SO THANKFUL! But wouldn&#8217;t you know that the enemy came right behind me and gave me one swift kick in the &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2010/05/02/happy-hour-and-a-little-conflict/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&rarr;</span></a></span></p>

<p>Expectations could be the death of me. Unmet expectations that is. I will never forget in premarital counseling our counselor said, &#8220;The greater your expectations the greater your disappointment.&#8221; File that one away in the mental Rolodex. I have quoted him a million times. I have suffered disappointment and had my heart broken by my &hellip; <span class="more-link"><a href="https://beckycrenshaw.com/2010/03/13/two-movies-and-a-reeces-cup/">Continue reading <spa