A young wife calls her mother expecting sympathy, only to receive some unexpectedly candid advice about marriage.
In his book Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs tells about one young wife who called her mom to tell her that she and her husband would not be coming over that day. It was their usual practice to visit her parents every Sunday.
“Why not?” her mom asked.
“Well,” she said, “because my honey is in a twit.”
“Why?” her mom enquired.
“I suppose because we have not been sexually intimate for seven days.”
This daughter may have expected some sympathy from her mom, but she was in for a surprise.
Her mom said, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Why would you deprive him of something that takes such a short amount of time and makes him soooooo happy!?”
“Mother!” the embarrassed daughter said into the phone. “I can’t believe you said that.”
Later, however, the young woman saw the wisdom in her mom’s advice, commenting, “My mom has been married for forty-seven years, and I don’t know of anyone who has a happier marriage.”
Reference: Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, Love and Respect (Thomas Nelson, 2004), p. 252
Lasting intimacy grows through mutual affection, honest conversation and respect for each other’s willingness—not through pressure or obligation.
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is an internationally acclaimed relationship expert, public speaker, and bestselling author. He holds a Ph.D. in Child and Family Ecology from Michigan State University as well as a Master of Divinity from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Before founding Love and Respect Ministries with his wife, Sarah, Dr. Eggerichs served for nearly two decades as the senior pastor of East Lansing Trinity Church in Michigan. His flagship 2004 book, Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs, became a New York Times bestseller by providing a practical framework for communication based on biblical principles and psychological insights.
Image: A postage stamp from New Zealand issued in 1998, as part of a popular booklet series titled “Greetings – Stay in Touch”. The specific stamp shown here is officially known as “Stay in Touch – Kissing” (or simply “The Kiss”). The stamp was released as part of a 10-stamp self-adhesive booklet aimed at encouraging personal communication and emotional closeness.