Married life is not what it used to be. People have always struggled with issues in their marriages, but it seems like today it is far more intense and common. We no longer can hide the fact that there are issues at home. We freely talk about it to our friends, co-workers, or whoever we find that will listen. We buy into the lie that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence and we deserve to eat on the grass. We glamorize our struggles as if it were a badge of honor to wear. Because of bad experiences at home, there is a strong movement to redefine what marriage is in the public arena.

We watch romantic movies and read romantic novels and articles and wonder why our marriage is not like that. We want what we don't have and seize opportunities to get them. Fidelity in marriage is losing its grip. More and more of us open ourselves up to relationships with someone other than our spouses. We are so driven by self that little thought is given to staying true to the vows we made. Instead of trying to work through our difficulties, we run away from them. We have become so conditioned to believe that love is nothing more than the way we feel that we give up on our marriages at the first sign of trouble.

There are thousands of people who make a living trying to help fix broken down marriages. Counselors are everywhere. Most colleges, universities, and seminaries offer degrees in one form or another in counseling. There are a multitude of books on the market on marriage, and the list continues to grow. It has progressed to the point now where it has become a specialized market. Books are written to address specific areas of concern in marriage (communication and sex are common ones). If there is any issue at all that you are struggling with, chances are you will find someone who addresses it. You can find helpful advice all over the net if you want it.

So, why another book on marriage? Why did I write my book, C Through Marriage? All I can tell you is that I really sense the Lord has put it together. My book deals with many issues of married life that you seldom see addressed in a book. I cover 48 different topics all beginning with the letter C that every couple deals with consistently throughout their married lives. Most of the chapters are concise, easy to read, and simply addressed. It is not all-inclusive, but it's a start. I hiope to follow up what I have written with a second volume someday. In, C Through Marriage, you will find advice on topics such as: communication, commitment, children, cash, character, charity, Christ, and cuddling. I am not a scholar and do not write like one. My advice is just plain common sense. I attempt to bring to the forefront issues that often do not get discussed, let alone worked on one's marriage.

Married life is a struggle, but one that is well worth working through. No matter that does not take work will last. We can avoid marital breakdowns by putting in the time and energy to keep our relationships fresh and healthy. Taking what we have for granted is a guaranteed formula for an unhappy, unfulfilled, and often unfaithful marriage. Such marriages, if they survive, make for a very miserable life indeed. It doesn't have to be that way. Anything worth having is worth working for. If you are in a marriage that has lost its spark and is making life miserable for you, seek out the help that God has provided for you. Set up an appointment with a trustworthy and reputable counselor or pastor, pick up a good book (C Through Marriage will work), and begin today to get on the path to a healthier and more satisfying relationship.

Every marriage has its ups and downs. My wife and I have been married now for over 36 years and we have been through them. Because we both determined early on in our marriage that divorce was not an option, we are committed to working hard on our marriage. And I assure you, it is well worth fighting for!!!