A Counselor at a Marriage Conference: Lesson 5

Jacksonville Marriage Counseling Encouragement #5 This was a statement made at the marriage conference my handsome husband and I went to and it just rang. out. We exchanged side eyes. Knowing looks. How many times have I been ready for bed and he walks through the room, face-in-phone? There goes any opportunity for pillow talk. How many times have we been in a hurry to get *all the places* and I spend the trip texting, face booking or pinteresting something urgent and all consuming? "You're on your phone too much," we say. We are trying to encourage each other or keep each other sharp, but it is just too true, too often.. and we are both guilty! Those dang phones. So practice. Limit your social media time. When you say no to it, you say yes to communicating with your spouse, being present with your family and available for blessings or hard talks that will save your marriage in the long run. How can you be more single-focused in your listening? Four tips for listening well (from the weekend to remember handbook!):
  1. Give focused attention.//... Listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Proverbs 7:24
  2. Listen with acceptance and understanding. //By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3
  3. Ask clarifying questions; make summarizing statements. "Are you telling me that...?" "Can you tell me more about what you meant when you said...?"
  4. Focus on what is being said, not the way it is being said.