Coffin Corner

MARRIAGE MATTERS

The Need for a National Campaign to Strengthen Marriage
by Rich Lowry
TIME Magazine Commentary, March 5, 2012

"The old schoolyard taunt ‘first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage’ badly needs a rewrite."

"A front-page New York Times article put an exclamation point on a decades-long trend when it reported that more than half of births to mothers under age 30 now occur out of wedlock. We are casting aside the institution of marriage and with it the notion that children should be raised in stable two-parent families. This is a social catastrophe..."

Read full article here >>

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Montalvos
Mentoring Other Couples

Joe and Jackie Montalvo lead a marriage mentoring program every other Saturday at their church in the Bronx, New York City. Out of the 180 average attendees at their church, about 30 couples (60 people) attend the bi-monthly classes! Joe and Jackie have a heart for reaching out to married couples, specifically in their Hispanic community and throughout urban areas. They are a "poster couple" for making an impact in their neighborhood. Imagine if every church in America had marriage champions like the Montalvos!

LAUNCH A MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN

Launch a marriage class or event for National Marriage Week – the week leading up to Valentine’s Day!

One idea: Order the new, entertaining 90-minute DVD,
DATE NIGHT CHALLENGE, and show it at a dessert gathering in your home or a potluck dinner at church!

This entertaining program includes uplifting music by Mark Schultz, hilarious comedy by Michael Jr., inspiring marriage instruction and tips from Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley and more!

Download promotional materials and order here:
www.datenightchallengedvd.com

TIPS FOR A GREAT DATE NIGHT

Regular Date Nights with your spouse are proven to improve the quality of your marriage!

Plan to go out to dinner next week, or do something fun—just the two of you— bowling, a museum, a local theatrical production. Keep the conversation positive and productive with these quick tips:

1. Celebrate and Have Fun!
Tell your partner about one thing that first attracted you to them.

2. Be Vulnerable and Be Grateful
Take turns sharing this sentence: "When I see the person you are, I am really grateful for your unique character qualities. I am especially grateful for your _____________ ,and I see that quality in you when _________________________."

(Affirm qualities such as diligence, understanding, dependability, generosity, compassion, supportiveness, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, caring heart, respectfulness, attentiveness, or encouraging spirit. Granted, your spouse will have weaknesses, but now is not the time to focus on those. Focus on affirming a strength or two.)

3. Celebrate Imperfections and Express Thanks
Take turns sharing this sentence: "I know that I can sometimes be _____________, but thank you for remembering today, that deep down, I really am a _____________ person. I love you."

(Your weaknesses might include being impatient, irritable, insensitive, preoccupied, oblivious, sloppy, compulsive, forgetful, etc. BUT this is not the time to remind your spouse of his/her imperfections. Agree not to brow beat the other person if they admit their weaknesses....but rather thank them for sharing, and thank them for their strengths.)