Home > Marriage > Snapshot
Marriage Partnership, Winter 1999
A Novel
Romance
Bret and Melanie Lott's marriage has had
its storybook moments
After several of Bret Lott's books met with critical success, Oprah
Winfrey made his latest, Jewel, one of her book club selections.
That's a big break for any writer. Bret, a college professor, and his
wife, Melanie, who works at home as Bret's assistant, have been married
19 years. They have two sons, Zebulun, 16, and Jacob, 13.
We met
when: I showed up in Bret's college-career Sunday school
class in Huntington Beach, California, after moving from New Jersey.
We were drawn to each
other because: we both loved going to the movies and playing
volleyball. Bret was so friendly and such a gentlemen. And he thought I was
different from the California girls he had been dating—more confident and
fun-loving.
What I appreciate about
Bret is: he is totally straightforward, a real straight-shooter.
You always know where you stand with him.
What I appreciate about
Melanie is: she's sensible and she keeps things organized
when everything is nuts.
Our biggest argument
was over: finances. We almost declared bankruptcy a few
years ago, and we had to sell our dream house. We got debt-free and put our
financial life in order, and then Oprah Winfrey called.
Which leads to our biggest
surprise: the telephone call from Oprah telling us she had
chosen Jewel for her book club. I'm a professor, and the success
of that book has eased a lot of financial pressure. It has been a great blessing
and allowed us to be a blessing to other people.
No one would ever guess
that: our arguments are really loud. We are both headstrong
and believe that love means going to the mat and communicating when you have
a problem. Good always comes out of it.
The hardest thing we
have faced was: when Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston in 1989
and did $35,000 worth of damage to our house. We spent 12 days without
electricity, and it took five months to repair the damage. We did learn how
to cook just about anything on a gas grill, though.
The best marriage advice
we got was: to get married. We were in love and still had
some years in college left. We went to our pastor for advice on how to wait,
and he told us to go ahead and tie the knot.
Our advice for other
couples is: always be willing to work things out. Don't
be afraid to argue.
Our marriage works
because: we talk a lot, we hash things out. We are friends,
and we love to be together.
Interviewed by Cindy Crosby
Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Marriage
Partnership magazine. Click here
for reprint information on Marriage Partnership.
Winter 1999, Vol. 16, No. 4, Page 96
Marriage Partnership
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Today's Christian Woman 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 Today's Christian Woman coming, honor your invoice for just $17.95 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 Today's Christian Woman as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
