4 Days to a Forever Marriage by Dr. Gary & Norma Smalley

4 days? 

Could it be that easy?

In these days of uncertainty about the state of marriage and even the future of it, believe it or not, many still long to marry and remain married forever.  If you don't believe me, check out this quick but enlightening article by History.com titled "Is Marriage History?"

With that in mind, the question still remains: "How is a forever marriage possible anymore?"

Could it be that making a simple yet difficult choice could be the key?

In 4 Days to a Forever Marriage: choosing Love or Anger, Dr. Gary Smalley and his wife Norma propose that it is so. 

The Smalleys not only have a lasting long-term marriage but also have helped countless other couples do the same.  In this small but invaluable book, they have packed in practicality and honesty by letting us into some of the things they have learned together over the years---often the hard way.  They do this in a conversational manner primarily so that it feels as if we are sitting in their living room with them gleaning from their years of wisdom as well as mistakes.

In this book, they structure it very simply by walking the reader(s) through four days---yes, only FOUR days---of learning practical ways of choosing love instead of anger in marriage as well as life in general.

Think about it.  We truly do have a choice in how we respond in life.  Often our own response to good or bad things others have done or said to us is what determines how strong or weak that relationship grows.  Though we truly feel we have the "right" to be angry when we are wronged (as we very well may), we still can choose instead to respond in love rather than wallowing and fuming in anger.

It is a tough concept, I know.  Maybe that is why The Smalleys have chosen to give us this lesson in small, digestible bites.  Whatever the case, they have done a marvelous job of being so transparent and basically reading my mind and most likely yours as well. True, they are not reading our minds, but that should bring comfort to us all to realize that our lives and struggles and emotions really aren't all that unique to each of us. I find comfort in realizing I am not alone in how I think and instinctively react to situations.

I pray that someday soon my husband and I can read this book together so that our marriage can grow even stronger as a result of learning together and communicating with each other about our journey toward choosing love over anger.

In the meantime, I do highly suggest that you and your spouse (or future spouse) glean from the wisdom, honesty and practicality presented to us by Dr. Gary and Norma Smalley in 4 Days to a Forever Marriage.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing Group. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.