What does wisdom have to do with a happy marriage? According to Doug Hinderer on Marriage Unhindered, quite a lot.

Drawing from the wisdom of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doug shares three practices that can help spouses grow closer to God and each other.

First, give thanks and praise. St. Bernard teaches us to recognize God’s goodness in the small things. Doug applies that directly to marriage: look deliberately for your spouse’s virtues and express your gratitude. Two of the most powerful things a husband or wife can hear are “thank you” and a sincere compliment.

Second, go to confession. Sin clouds our judgment, while the Sacrament of Reconciliation turns us back toward God, the source of wisdom. Doug regularly encourages Catholic couples he works with to make a good confession, especially when their marriage is struggling.

Finally, practice prudence in your expectations and speech. Don’t demand perfection from your spouse. Instead, Doug encourages couples to “celebrate their virtues” and “joyfully tolerate their defects.” That also means rejecting criticism, contempt, sarcasm, put-downs, and belittling.

Ultimately, St. Bernard’s wisdom points back to love—love of God and love of neighbor. For married couples, that begins with prayer.

As Doug reminds listeners, “The more you pray with your spouse, the more you will love your spouse.”

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What does wisdom have to do with a happy marriage? According to Doug Hinderer on Marriage Unhindered, quite a lot.
Drawing from the wisdom of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doug shares three practices that can help spouses grow closer to God and each other.
First, give thanks and praise. St. Bernard teaches us to recognize God&rsquo;s goodness in the small things. Doug applies that directly to marriage: look deliberately for your spouse&rsquo;s virtues and express your gratitude. Two of the most powerful things a husband or wife can hear are &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; and a sincere compliment.
Second, go to confession. Sin clouds our judgment, while the Sacrament of Reconciliation turns us back toward God, the source of wisdom. Doug regularly encourages Catholic couples he works with to make a good confession, especially when their marriage is struggling.
Finally, practice prudence in your expectations and speech. Don&rsquo;t demand perfection from your spouse. Instead, Doug encourages couples to &ldquo;celebrate their virtues&rdquo; and &ldquo;joyfully tolerate their defects.&rdquo; That also means rejecting criticism, contempt, sarcasm, put-downs, and belittling.
Ultimately, St. Bernard&rsquo;s wisdom points back to love&mdash;love of God and love of neighbor. For married couples, that begins with prayer.
As Doug reminds listeners, &ldquo;The more you pray with your spouse, the more you will love your spouse.&rdquo;
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The best way to catch&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

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Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.