Category: Authenticity

• Being Irritatingly Human

  You’ve felt it. I know. The Christmas shopping season is in full swing. Black Friday’s already a distant maniacal memory. And it feels like Cyber Monday was a thousand clicks and shopping carts ago. So if you haven’t felt that ever-familiar spirit of the season(i.e. “Bah-humbug!”) while shopping down the crowded aisles of Walmart or…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 30, 2011

  Authenticity, Confession, Conflict, Humility, Truth

• The Way God Works Best

  This is such a relevant topic for messy marriages, because the need for encouragement in most messy marriages and lives is extremely high. So I spent a lot of time pondering what is most encouraging to me in my marriage (as well as, other relationships). And one thought stood far above every other answer. You…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 2, 2011

  Authenticity, Confession, Humility

• I’m a Perfect Mess

  Do you remember when Kermit the frog sang, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” in one of those old Muppet Movies? Well, let me just say, I feel the same way, only my song says, it’s not easy being messy! This is especially true when you’re a pastor’s wife and a marriage and family counselor, for…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 26, 2011

  Authenticity, Humility, Perfectionism

• Are You Wonder Wife or Super Hubby?

  I don’t think many people will debate me on this, but I really think that there are about as many neat freaks in the world as there are slobs. However, I have another theory that many might not agree with so easily. I don’t think we can apply that principle to messiness in marriage. In…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 5, 2011

  Authenticity, Confession, Faith in God

• Blessings in the Messes

  Here’s a true confession: Coming clean about having a messy marriage was and is, at times, scary. But lately I’ve been realizing that having had a messy marriage is a blessing. Let me explain. Back when I was young and unmarried, I had this romanticized idea about love and marriage. I felt like there had…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 9, 2010

  Authenticity, Magical Thinking, Mess Makers, Trials

• Marriage Mistake #7 – Refused to Admit My Fault

  

  When I was in my twenties and early thirties, I really had a hard time seeing my wrong behavior as . . . wrong. Or maybe it was just that I couldn’t bear to admit to myself that I was weak. I’d say, probably a little bit of both.  Unfortunately, that meant that I rarely,…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 26, 2010

  Authenticity, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Marriage Mistakes, Victim Mentality