Jar of Repairs

Every marriage journey includes seasons of smooth sailing and seasons of stormy weather. Dr. Steve Stephens and Alice Gray, in their insightful work “The Walk Out Woman,” identify five particularly vulnerable phases that many marriages encounter. Understanding these seasons can equip you as a wife to not just survive them, but to emerge stronger and more united with your husband.

Protecting Your Marriage Vineyard from Destructive Communication Patterns. Dr. John Gottman identified four particularly destructive communication patterns—criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. But I want to call them what Scripture calls them: little foxes. They may seem small or insignificant in the moment, but left unchecked, they will systematically destroy the tender vines of love, trust, and intimacy in your marriage.