[ Read Time: 1 min, 6 secs ]

Today is Cetelia's birthday (happy birthday, CBoo!).

Earlier this week my bride said, "Since I've turned 40, my pain tolerance has decreased."

Let me tell why this comment jumped out at me:

Cetelia had three babies -- all weighing at least 10 lbs -- without an epidural or any type of pain medicine. She was beastly, and I mean that in the most loving possible way.

These days, small aches cause her to wince with discomfort.

This is just one way Cetelia has changed.

You see, we want things to change about our spouse -- whether it's a habit, attitude, weight, health, a vice, or whatever. But, when the change occurs, we get bent out of shape because we have to change the way we relate to him/her.

Get it? Their change messes with our way of being.

In some instances, we may wish things would go back the way they were with our spouse so that things would go back to "normal" for us.

But, that's not how it works. Is it?

When we don't respond well to our mate changing, we wind up upsetting our mate and ourselves at the same time.

As I close, I want to encourage you to give your spouse time and space to change, then offer time and space to relate to him/her in a new way.

It will make your marriage work so much better.

Kevin