Communication is the cornerstone of a healthy marriage. There is absolutely no way around it. If you find a couple who crushes it in the area of communication, it’s almost certain you’ve found a healthy and vibrant marriage.
When we began our relationship after losing our late spouses to terminal illnesses, we had a combined 55 years of marriage experience to build on. We recognized very quickly that our relationship was unique and “God-given.” From the very beginning, we wanted to honor Jesus by building this new covenant on the lessons we have learned. We called those things our “non-negotiables.” At the top of our list was “AUTHENTIC COMMUNICATION.”
When you step into a new relationship after losing a spouse to death, it’s very intimidating. We had been through enough pain for a lifetime, so we wanted to make sure that our relationship was Christ-centered and extremely healthy. And we wanted to laugh a lot! We agreed that if we were going down this road, we had to be able to talk about ANYTHING and not worry about how it was going to impact the relationship.
Unfortunately, that’s where it breaks down for most couples. They simply just don’t communicate well. Sure, you may talk about the kids, schedules, and how you plan to spend the weekend, but we are talking about something far greater than surface level conversations.
What’s crazy is in the beginning of the relationship, you talk for hours and hours! Think about when you first started dating your spouse. You most likely would talk or Facetime for hours, then at the end of the conversation, you would fight about who was going to hang up first. “You hang up!” “No, you hang up!” You simply could not get enough of each other. Then, over time, that communication seems to fade.
Some would argue, “We talk a lot!” Talking and authentic communication are not the same thing. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion it has taken place.” — George Bernard Shaw, writer
Do you talk about your hopes and dreams? How about your fears and insecurities? Do you have spiritual conversations? Do you feel open to talk honestly about your sex life?
We’ve learned that most couples are two or three conversations away from breakthrough in their relationship. The problem is, they are too afraid to have that discussion or they simply don’t know how.
What if we told you that better communication would improve your sex life? It does! Without a doubt! It also improves your spiritual life and emotional health and FUSES you into ONE.
We love the idea of being FUSED. By definition it means, “Joined or blended to form a single entity.”
Jesus described it this way in Matthew 19:6, “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
That doesn’t happen by accident or by chance. You don’t walk in sync with one another because you share a toothbrush holder. You must be super intentional, and communication is the key that unlocks that intimacy.
To get you started, here are a few tips:
1. Connect with your spouse daily.
We love to start our day with a cup of coffee and a great conversation. We also love to end our day sitting face-to-face in authentic communication. Figure out what works for you. We all have different marriage dynamics and rhythms, but whatever you do, make it a priority.
2. Ask great questions.
Ask a lot of questions, then actually listen to your spouse as they share their heart. Here are a few questions we ask a lot!
What are you most excited about?
What makes you most grateful?
What do you need more from me as your spouse?
What do you need less from me as your spouse?
What would you like our life, marriage, and family to look like in five years?
When you dream together and really get to hear the heart of your spouse, it’s a game changer.
3. Push through the hard times in communication.
Not every conversation will be easy. Don’t shy away from it. It’s only uncomfortable because you don’t do it enough. We had a friend speak a powerful truth in our lives at the beginning of our marriage and we visit it often. Live your life in such a way that you have nothing to hide, nothing to fear, and nothing to prove. Let those words serve as a guard rail in your marriage.
Better communication between you and your spouse leads to more trust in each other, and better trust leads to more confidence.
Speak life over one another and talk it out.
Written by: Anthony and Shannen Braswell. Shannen Fields Braswell is an award winning actress, producer, model, and inspirational speaker. Anthony Braswell is a pastor, inspirational speaker, content creator and leadership coach. We lost our late spouses to terminal illnesses within 8 weeks of each other. We both made the decision to heal forward and make each day count. As we took those steps, God allowed our paths to cross and our new friendship quickly turned into our very own miraculous love story. Together, we have been married a combined 55 years and have used that experience to create Uncover Marriage. We have also launched Healing Forward Ministries, a non-profit organization to offer financial assistance to widows and fund content and experiences designed to reverse the epidemic of divorce that is sweeping the globe. We love to inspire others with hope and equip couples to experience the marriage of their dreams!
