Saving Your Marriage Before It StartsSample

Have You Developed the Habit of Happiness?

Little did we know, however, that we would receive more thankful emails on this chapter than any other. Here’s a typical note:

Les & Leslie: I’m so glad we read your chapter on the habit of happiness. It changed everything about our honeymoon.

You see, my new husband wanted to surprise me – and that’s what he did. But not in a good way. He took me camping for our honeymoon. I couldn’t believe it. He was so excited but I was stunned.

Not only that, but when we got to the campsite, it was raining. Hard. I was sitting in the soggy tent watching him try to start a fire with wet logs and I started sulking. How could he do this to me, I thought. Did I just marry the most insensitive guy in the world?

I was just gearing up to tell him what a ridiculous idea this was and then it hit me. The message of your chapter filled my mind – I could choose my attitude. I realized we’d be telling this honeymoon story forever and I could either make it more miserable by whining or I could choose to be happy anyhow.

Long story short, I stayed positive and he realized it wasn’t a great idea. We packed up and headed to a quaint little hotel a few miles away – more in love than ever.

Ask most people what makes a marriage endure and you’ll undoubtedly hear something about love. But ask anyone who has dedicated themselves to study and research of the topic and you’ll hear a different answer: A good, enduring marriage is built by two people’s capacity to adjust to bad things. It’s true. Every marriage, no matter how good, eventually bumps into bad things – whether it’s bad weather, financial problems, illness or whatever. And it’s a couple’s capacity to adjust to circumstances beyond their control that will make or break their union.

How well do the two of you adjust to difficult circumstances? As you read this biblical passage, consider its application to your future marriage and how the two of you will muster the resiliency to adjust to tough times.

For a weekly dose of encouragement for your marriage, check out Les & Leslie’s blog, Devotion, at LesandLeslie.com