Sunday, June 28, 2015

Book Review: 7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage Review

FTC disclaimer:  I received an advanced reading copy of this book to facilitate my review.  This post does contain affiliate links.  All opinions are my own.


I've been married for about five weeks.  Some people are probably wondering why I feel qualified to review a book on marriage.  A fact that has surprised several friends recently is I am no stranger to reading books on marriage.  I heard a speaker in high school say we should read up on subjects that interest us and that are important to us.  I've always wanted to get married, so I started reading books on marriage at that time.  After all, your marriage is your most important human relationship.  I know a number of people would say that is incorrect and your most important human relationship should be your child.  I disagree, because I feel like a child will thrive more if he knows both parents love each other.



It's been disappointing to me to hear so many people be discouraging about marriage.  I don't believe for a moment that marriage has to be a relationship where you just put up with each other out of convenience, for the kids, or for financial reasons.  There was a reason you got married, and you don't want to lose sight of that.  In our premarital counseling, our pastor told us about a couple who got a divorce because the man left his socks on the floor.  Sounds crazy, right?  Well, one small problem drove a wedge between them.

In 7 Secrets to An Awesome Marriage author Kim Kimberling writes about ways to help ensure your marriage is as good as it can be.  Obviously, there are seven main suggestions, and afterwards he talks about how you can turn these secrets into seven steps with action suggestions.

The first secret, and one that has always been important for me when considering my future husband is that God is first.  It is rare that a day goes by that he and I don't pray together.  We were discussing recently about a ministry we want to be involved with next year.  This year we were only able to spend one evening at the camp with these teenagers.  I was playing Bible trivia with some of them, and my husband returned drenched in sweat telling me he had been playing Four Square with nearly two dozen kids.  I can't tell you how happy I was to see that he just joined in a game.  I know when I was a teenager, adults who took an interest in me and were involved in my church activities were such good role models.   Those adults helped me become who I am.

This book also discusses things like fighting fair.  I'd love to say that my husband and I have never argued, but that's far from the case.  (Thankfully not much since the wedding.)  Since we started dating, we have had 10 family, friends, and neighbors pass away.  There have been financial problems, full time care giving for my mother for a while, and more.  The important thing for us has been to sit down, listen, and work things out.  We might not always agree completely, but we've always been able to come up with a solution that works for us.

Balance is another thing that Dr. Kimberling talks about in this book.  One thing that has been lacking in my husband and my relationship -- really since the beginning -- is dates.  We had been dating for about three months before we had our first official date.  Then would you believe it didn't happen because we were going to go to the Smithsonian and that was the first day of the government shutdown in 2013.  We spent a lot of time together but to spend time just doing nothing but enjoying each other is not something we have done much of in the past, but we are starting to.  This month, we took a gift card we had gotten as a gift and went out to eat.  We had a fun evening for only $9 out of pocket, so dates don't have to be expensive.   Dates are certainly one area this book reminded me that we need to really plan.  We spend a lot of time together, but often that is not purely fun time.

So like I said, I'm no stranger to books on marriage, even if I'm a newlywed.  I think this is a great book that anyone who is married (or wants to get married someday) should read.  If we put time into our marriage and work at it, then it will be the best it can be!

And now for the giveaway.  One reader of Books, Bargains, Blessings will receive a $10 Family Christian appreciation certificate they can put towards buying this book or something at at Family Christian Stores.  Open only to the USA.  18 and older.

10 comments:

  1. I would consider the Gold Nail Cross Necklace.

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  2. I would get the Days of Creation Nesting Blocks to give to my nephew as a baptism gift.

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  3. First of all, Congratulations on you recent marriage! If I were to win, I'd get the Hope, Pray, Love Inspirational Message Journal. So nice! Thank-you. :)

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  4. I would buy another cartridge for my Cricut!! I love all of the stuff at FC!! :)

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  5. I think I would get the Joyce Meyer Battlefield of the Mind DVD.

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  6. I might buy the Lavender Fields Hand Soap.

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  7. I need to get my son a new Bible. Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I would get a kids book for my daughter.

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