CONTENTS
JUST VISITING
Ann and I will be leaving on Thursday for Pascagoula, Mississippi. We will be conducting a seminar on "Mending A Messed Up Marriage," September 5-7 We would appreciate your prayers while we travel. If you should be in that area and would like to attend the seminar, you can contact John Dobbs for information about times and location. His e-mail address is
Next weekend is "Grandparents" day. Kimberly Reeves, a member of the church we serve in Minden, Louisiana, has contributed an article about the specialness of grandparents. Her article brought back memories of days long ago when we went to town on Saturday afternoons to purchase needed supplies for the coming week. The minute I got out of the car I headed straight for a certain street corner, because I knew my grandfather would be there talking to his friends. He would ask me about things I had been doing and before I left, he would give me a penny (Those were depression days. That penny would buy a stick of peppermint candy that would probably cost fifty cents today.). Those brief Saturday afternoon visits still remain strong in my mind nearly sixty years later. Kimberly 's article reminds me of the opportunities I now have with my own grandchildren.
Quite frequently, we are asked to recommend books in the field of marriage and family relationships. This week's newsletter contains a rather extensive list of books in the area of marriage improvement. Perhaps a disclaimer is unnecessary, but inclusion on the list doesn't mean wholesale endorsement of the contents of each book. It simply means you can find some good ideas in these books. I'm assuming you've got sense enough to know how to eat fish and let the bones alone.
"Special," is the best word to describe my grandparents. There's so much meaning in that one word. They were each unique in their own way, yet, they were so much alike in many other ways. The stories they would tell about when they were young, and how the world used to be remain with me. They told of days when people all cared and helped one another, and never turned anyone away who was in need. We could see that in them everyday. The giving and loving came straight from the heart. They had so much love for life and others. It would touch your very soul. I feel so lucky and proud. They had loved me deeply. I will love and cherish their memories, forever! You never think about being without them; to us they will live forever. I guess in a lot of ways, they will be with us always. The memories we have and the love we shared was so strong, even death couldn't break that bond. They made a permanent mark in our lives.
Grandparents are special no matter who they are. They come in all sizes and backgrounds, with a wonderful outlook on life. You know whatever you may do, whether it's right or wrong, they're always there to listen. They didn't always have a long list of advice; they just listened. Yes, grandparents are a rare and unique breed, and we all need to remember that and take a lot more time telling them how wonderful they are. They've spent most of their lives devoting themselves to your parents and now you. It's time to give back some of that devotion and love while they're still with you, because one day you'll wake up, and they'll be gone. Then, even though there are the sweet, cherished memories that fill your heart, there's also a permanent emptiness that longs for just one more hug!
Gary Chapman. The Five Love Languages. Chicago: Northfield Publishers, 1992, 1995. paperback, 203 pages.
Howard and Charlotte Clinebell. The Intimate Marriage. New York: Harper and Row, 1970. hardcover, 231 pages
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. False Assumptions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. hardcover, 207 pages.
Charles Colson. Against the Night - Living in the New Dark Ages. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications, 1989. hardcover, 205 pages
James Dobson. Straight Talk To Men and their Wives. Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1980. hardcover, 217 pages.
James Dobson. Emotions: Can You Trust Them. Ventura, California: Gospel Light, revised edition, 1997. paperback, 144 pages.
James Dobson. Love Must Be Tough. Dallas: Word Books, 1996 edition, hardcover.
James Dobson. What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale, 1977. Paperback.
Daniel J. Dolesh and Sherelynn Lehman. Love Me, Love Me Not - How To Survive Infidelity. New York: McGraw Hill, 1985. hardcover, 192 pages.
Harold Hazelip and Ken Durham. Becoming Persons of Integrity. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. paperback, 125 pages.
Paul Faulkner. Achieving Success Without Failing Your Family. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing Co., 1994. hardcover, 344 pages.
Guy Greenfield. We Need Each Other. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987. paperback, 189 pages.
Willard Harley. His Needs: Her Needs . Grand Rapids: Revell, 1994.
Douglas R. Harvey. When The One You Love Wants To Leave. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993. paperback, 223 pages.
Sandra Humphrey. What Do You Communicate? Nashville: Christian Communications, 1985. paperback, 133 pages.
Alan Loy McGinnis. The Friendship Factor. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1979. paperback, 192 pages.
Diane Medved. The Case Against Divorce
New York: Ivy Books, 1989. paperback, 258 pages.
Frank B. Minirith and Paul D. Meier. Happiness Is A Choice. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978. paper back, 248 pages.
Dr. Les and Dr. Leslie Parrott III. Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995. hardcover, 158 pages
M. Scott Peck. The Road Less Traveled. New York: Walker & Company, 1978,1985. paperback, 431 pages.
Bill Perkins. Fatal Attractions - Overcoming Our Secret Addictions. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 1991. paperback, 191 pages.
J. Alan Petersen. The Myth Of The Greener Grass. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 1983. hardcover, 272 pages.
Frank Pitman. Private Lies. New York: Norton, 1989.
John Powell. The Secret Of Staying In Love. Niles, Illinois: 1974, paperback, 189 pages.
Lyn Rose. Loving Him. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1995.
Ron Rose. Loving Her. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1995.
Virginia Satir. Peoplemaking. Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books, 1972 paperback, 304 pages.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives. New York: HarperPerennial, 1995. paperback, 232 pages.
David Seamands. Healing For Damaged Emotions. New York: Walker & Company, 1981, 1985. paperback, 242 pages.
Gary Smalley. Hidden Keys To A Loving and Lasting Marriage. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993. paperback, 335 pages.
Gary Smalley. The Language of Love. New York: Pocket Books, 1995. paperback.
Louis Smedes. Forgive And Forget. San Francisco: HarperSanfrancisco, revised edition, 1996. paperback.
Janis Abrahms Spring. After The Affair. New York: HarperPerennial, 1997. paperback, 292 pages.
Charles Stanley. How to Handle Adversity. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. hardcover, 191 pages.
Willard Tate. Learning to Love. Nashville: Christian Communications, 1989. paperback, 146 pages.
Willard Tate. Habits of A Loving Heart. Nashville: Christian Communications, 1992. paperback, 140 pages
Neil Clark Warren. The Triumphant Marriage. Colorado Springs, CO: Focus On the Family Publishing, 1995. hardcover, 176 pages.
Page Williams. Doing Myself a Favor: Loving My Wife. Plainfield, N.J.: Logos. 1994, paperback.
Ed & Gayle Wheat. Intended for Pleasure. Grand Rapids: Revell, revised edition, 1997. hardcover, 288 pages.
H. Norman Wright. Family Is Still a Great Idea. Ann Arbor, Michigan: Servant Publications, 1992. hardcover, 287 pages.
Sandra P. Aldrich. Men Read Newspapers not Minds. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale, 1996. paperback.
Nancy Green. Married without Masks. Grand Rapids: Baker, revised edition, 1996. paperback.
Karen Scalf Linamen. Pillow Talk- The Intimate Marriage from A to Z. Grand Rapids: Revell, 1996. paperback.
Calvin Miller. A Covenant for All Seasons. Wheaton, Illinois: Harold Shaw Publications, 1995. paperback.
Gordon L. Penner and Joyce J. Penner. Men and Sex - Discovering Greater Love, Passion and Intiimacy. Nashville. Thomas Nelson, 1997. paperback.
GRANDPARENTS
RESOURCES FOR MARRIAGE IMPROVEMENT
NEXT WEEK'S FEATURE ARTICLE: "AN OLD MOVIE ABOUT FAMILY COMMITMENT"
If you have questions about marriage and family relationships, you can
"ASK THE COUNSELOR." Address your questions to Mikal Frazier. Her
address is mikalfraz@aol.com