Happily Remarried
by David and Lisa Frisbie
Published by Harvest House Publishers
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Reviewed by Lou Pilgrim Cherry
This up-beat, yet realistic guide to help people contemplating marriage again is a gold mine of practical information in a user-friendly format. The authors' four "First Principles" give marriage the opportunity to "thrive, not just survive." These can give hope to thousands, NO MATTER WHAT the circumstances in their previous or current relationships, including religious beliefs.
No rose-colored glasses mask the pain that many men, women and children experienced through the breakup of marriages, yet the stories are uplifting, not depressing--include "the setbacks and challenges, but also the successes and achievements" of many do-over couples. They feature four couples who remained married up to 54 years the second time around, ranging from a modest twosome who said, "We aren't perfect," to an internationally known politician and his wife.
The authors "found the single most important thing...to guard and protect your second marriage is to deliberately focus it on serving God--but they also reach secular people as well. When BOTH partners commit themselves to keeping God first, positive things begin to happen in every other aspect of the marriage relationship."
They address the gamut of emotions, including fear, anger, resentment, joy, love, while sharing their principles to: Take TIME to FOCUS on prayer, learn, serve, worship, rest and renew TOGETHER; Regard remarriage as PERMANENT and Irreversible; FORGIVE everyone, including YOURSELF; and (6 guidelines to) Use CONFLICT to get better ACQUAINTED. (my emphasis.)
The seven chapters cover it all with advice and how to apply it. The workbook portion is very helpful as well. Examples from both male and female perspectives help 'think outside the box' and stimulate thinking to find solutions
I recommend this book to every pastor and Christian marriage counselor, church and public librarian without reservation, and to others will find it invaluable in making their marriage thrive!
Armchair Interview says: May the people who read this book implement it to "honor their primary roles as husbands, wives, and parents of growing children by the grace of God, to His purpose for them. It's never too late!"