One of the comments on the tip for Tuesday seemed to be saying that we should do what it right, regardless of what our bride chooses to do. I certainly agree with that – and I’ve posted about it more than once. But there is a limit to what you can do unilaterally, and if you expect to make changes that require your bride’s participation, it is wise to know if she is willing before you set your mind on those things. The vast majority of husbands can make their marriage better with no action from their bride, but that does not mean most of us can go from a poor to a good, or a good to a great marriage just by our own efforts. If you set your sights on something that requires action from her that is not going to happen, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment, and setting her up for frustration. Even if what you want is right, pushing for it with no regard to what your bride wants is likely to cause problems.
When in doubt, start small, and start with something that does not require her to do much. Choose things you can do and change, and be ready to accept that some things can’t change without her willingness to change. Whatever you do, don’t make your marriage worse by pressuring your bride for things she is not ready to do.
