Loving Your Man Without Losing Your Mind

I love my husband. I don't understand the man, but I do love him. I love the way he provides for our family, the way he cares about us, and takes care of us when we are sick. I love that he supports my writing career and that he takes his place as the spiritual head of our family seriously. I don't understand why he gets cranky so easily and why when he is sick, he doesn't want me to know it. I don't understand why he thinks chasing a little dimpled ball around the grass, swinging at it with a metal stick is fun. And I really don't understand why he sometimes makes it so difficult to love him! Love is patient and kind. It is not rude, not proud, not selfish. But nowhere does God's word say "love is easy" or "love is not difficult". In fact, about the only thing in life more difficult than loving a man is understanding one! It's enough to drive any woman insane. Author Susie Davis, married to Will for over 20 years, understands this. In her book Loving Your Man Without Losing Your Mind, she takes a Biblical look at the differences in men and women. The message of this book? Keeping God first, understanding that we are different and then adapting ourselves to the differences--rather than forcing our husbands to adapt--are the keys to keeping sane and keeping the love alive. My favorite part in this book was Chapter Eight, entitled "A Failure to Yield". One of the most confusing (and often annoying) scripture passages for women is found in Ephesians chapter five. Verses 7 and 8 say "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord: (NIV). Ms. Davis explains that the word submit has negative connotations in today's world, but this scripture is not saying women should do everything their husband's demand. Doing that will make a wife into a doormat. No, rather she says "submit" means "yield". We are to yield our hearts to Christ, and then yield them to our husbands. This is a way of working together, of making compromises for the sake of marital bliss and putting your husband's needs above your own. Through reading this book, I learned a lot about myself and how to become the woman God intends for me to to. I would highly recommend the book for any woman wanting to keep her mind intact while giving her heart to her husband.

Virtually all married women can relate to the title of the Susie Davis' book. This is a must read for every married or engaged to be married woman. Davis does a wonderful job covering all the hot buttons of marriage from how to fight fair, to reminding you that your husband is hot to someone--make sure that someone is you. She also addresses sexual issues, and how the stress of money and kids can spoil a marriage. Davis says, "Staying married for a lifetime requires a belief in what God can accomplish, not what you can accomplish." As Davis states, "we are all a mess," and that is so true. Having a marriage that lasts a lifetime can only be accomplished through believing that God wants your marriage to be a success even more than you do. This book brings practical, everyday help with humor that drives her point home. Next time you are looking for a wedding gift, this is the perfect book. And if you are like me and have been married for over 14 years--this is an excellent book to help you refocus your marriage.

I read this book with several girlfriends of mine and answered the questions after each chapter. Thought provoking and humorous at the same time. If you are looking for a wonderful marriage based on God's perspective, you should read this easy read.

The use of humor and questions for self examination make this book a valueable tool for improving any relationship.