Tag: Respect

• How 5 Unfair Tasks Can Make Marriage Stronger

  Sometimes we bristle at a task because it’s “unfair,” especially when it comes to our marriages.  Oh sure, most of us accept this reality in the realm of parenting or even in our jobs. But when it comes to marriage, we’ve somehow bought the lie that there should never be anything “unfair” about it.  I […]

  BethSteffaniak

  October 10, 2021

  Acceptance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Discouragement, False Beliefs, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Persevere in the Lord, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Responsibility, Spiritual Growth

  Boundaries, Insult, Marriage, Respect, Responsibility, Strength, Unfair

• How to Stop Being Controlled by Your Phone in Marriage

  

  Have you ever gotten angry with your spouse for constantly being distracted by their cell phone while you’re together? I’m not here to judge you if you have. Especially since I’ve gotten my nose out of joint over my husband’s phone usage a time or two. Worse still, I’ve been guilty of going overboard with […]

  BethSteffaniak

  November 1, 2020

  Accountability, Addictions, Alienation, Balance, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Connection, Control, Discouragement, Encouragement, Focus, Marriage, Negotiation, Out of Balance Series, Priorities, Self-awareness, Togetherness, Validation

  Balance, Boundaries, Cell Phone, Communication, Connection, Control, Focus, Marriage, Out of Balance, Phone, Respect, Togetherness, Validation

• 5 Ways to C.L.E.A.N. Up Manipulating Your Spouse with Guilt

  

  Today, I’m excited to continue in the “Spring Clean Your Marriage” series with my next guest blogger, Karen Friday. I feel a special kinship with her because she’s a pastor’s wife like me! I hope you’ll check out her bio below and make her feel welcome by commenting and sharing her wise words all around […]

  BethSteffaniak

  May 19, 2019

  Acceptance, Anger, Avoidance, Bad Habits, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, False Beliefs, Forgiveness, Grace, Guilt, Insecurity, Marriage, Nagging, Negative Self-Talk, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Toxic Baggage, Withdrawal

  Acceptance, Boundaries, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Disrespect, Faith in God, Guilt, Guilt Messages, Insecurity, Jealousy, Manipulation, Marriage Boundaries, Respect, Trust, Trust Spouse

• 7 Ways to Clean Up Being Disrespectful to Your Spouse

  

  Recently, I was disrespectful to my husband while we were at our small group Bible study, of all places! It was just that the direction my husband was taking during our discussion just got under my skin. So I sat there stewing—thinking of what I would say to him later in a private moment. Apparently, […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 28, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Amends, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Humility, Listening Skills, Love of God, Marriage, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Respect, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Surrender, Vulnerability

  Communication, Conflict, Cover with Love, Criticism, Disrespect, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Listening Skills, Respect, Surender to God

• 5 Tips for When You Undermine Your Spouse’s Parenting

  

  I’m excited to continue my “Spring Clean Your Marriage” Series with my next guest blogger, Aimee Imbeau. See her bio below to find the link to her site and, then be sure to connect with her on social media as well. I had a choice to make…and only moments in which to make the best […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 21, 2019

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Bonding, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Criticism, Differences, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Marriage, Motherhood, Oneness, Parenthood, Prayer, Respect, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Unity

  Conflict, Messy Motherhood, Parenting, Respect, Support, Support Spouse, Team Mentality, Undermine Parenting, United Front, Unity

• Book Review and Giveaway – Doing Life with Your Adult Children

  

  My husband and I now have an empty-nest and are no longer expected to parent our adult children. Correction: we’re no longer “welcome” to parent them! 😉 So what’s an older mom to do? Sign up for senior aerobics? Spend her time at the mall, grieving away her sorrows with purchases-a-plenty? Being a mom is […]

  BethSteffaniak

  March 24, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Discouragement, Empty-nest, Encouragement, Expectations, Identity, In-Laws, Marriage, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Respect

  Adult Child, Adult Children, Boundaries, Communication, Empty-nest, Parenting, Respect

• The Unfair Task of Holding in Your Personal Truth in Marriage

  

  Did you know that my husband is an open book with a transparent cover and see-through pages?! I always know exactly where I stand with him at just about every moment in our marriage. This can be a good thing most of the time. I’m grateful for his openness and willingness to clear the air. […]

  BethSteffaniak

  May 20, 2018

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Connection, Criticism, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Grace, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Pain, Patience, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Relief, Respect, Safety, Self-Protection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices, Support, Truth, Unfair Realities in Marriage

  Boundaries, Communication, Discretion, Hold Tongue, Kindness, Listen, Openness, Respect, Sensitivity, Timing, Truth, Understanding

• The Unfair Task of Respecting Your Mate No Matter What

  

  I think people often confuse respect and trust. Why do I say that? Because I hear people, women in particular, saying their mates must earn their respect before they will show respect. I totally understand the challenge to treat with respect the mate who acts in a way that is not respectable. It certainly feels […]

  BethSteffaniak

  April 22, 2018

  Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Betrayal, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Discouragement, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love, Love for God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Patience, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Self-deception, Submission, Surrender, Trust, Unfair Realities in Marriage, Vulnerability

  Disrespect, Emotions, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Respect, Respectable, Submission, Trust, Unfair Realities, Withdrawal

• 5 ‘Little Foxes’ that Damage a Marriage by Kelly R. Baker

  

  Have you heard of the allegorical foxes that spoil the vine? My mother used to quote Song of Songs 2:15 to my brother and me growing up, as part of teaching us how to treat people. She continued to remind me of this verse when my husband Justin and I started butting heads early on […]

  BethSteffaniak

  November 15, 2017

  Acceptance, Affirmation, Bible Study, Blaming, Bonding, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Connection, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Forgiveness, Grace, Marriage, Marriage Spark, Patience, Perfectionism, Positive Focus, Priorities, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Self-awareness, Self-sacrifice, Serving, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Support, Thankfulness, Vulnerability

  Bible Study, Criticism, God’s Word, Gratitude, Negative Focus, Positive Focus, Respect, Thankfulness

• 4 Ways Listening Draws My Mate to Me

  

  My husband and I did not enter marriage as great listeners or with amazingly refined listening skills. We were young and really not all that aware of how important listening was to our marriage. I would go on in those early days of marriage to get my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, where […]

  BethSteffaniak

  September 23, 2017

  Acceptance, Anger, Bonding, Comfort, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Empathy, Encouragement, Listening Skills, Openness, Perspective, Positive Focus, Respect, Support, Togetherness, Validation

  Bond, Closeness, Communication, Conflict, Empathy, Listening, Perspective, Respect, Togetherness