Tips for the Tongue-tied
Theme of the Week: Love Out Loud
Friday, February 17, 2006
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: O Lord, I'm just not a good speaker. … I'm clumsy with words (Exodus 4:10). Bonus Reading: Exodus 4:11-12
How do you move past awkwardness to intimate sharing? Intimacy is like a car on a cold day: It can use a little warming up before you hit the freeway. Talk about what happened at work today before you start exploring one another's secret ambitions.
Look for natural opportunities for intimate conversation rather than forced ones. Asking out of the blue, "What are you most afraid of?" is forced. Natural intimacy happens when lovers use things that happen to one another, books they read, movies they see, as a springboard for talking about important things.
Be sensitive about timing. Don't expect an exhausted or harried lover to be in good form for the work of talking and listening. The moment your wife arrives home with the groceries isn't the best time for an intimate chat. Yet lovers mustn't use fatigue or stress as a perpetual excuse to forego this essential task.
And remember that time and space is required. Not much intimacy can be squeezed into a television commercial. Turn the TV off. Get the kids to bed early. Put on some quiet music. Watch the fire together. Then talk—and listen.
Timothy L. Hall— in The Labor of Love
My Response: A shared experience we could use as a springboard for significant conversation is …
Thought to Apply: Communication between two human beings can be confusing, especially if one is the husband and the other is the wife.—MACK & BRENDA TIMBERLAKE
Adapted from The Labor of Love (Kregel, 1996) by permission.
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
Lord, I want to move beyond a shallow relationship with both You and the mate You've blessed me with. Please help me in both areas.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 
