Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

Sep 28th Book Review: Gary & Norma Smalley

I had the honor of reading and reviewing Dr. Gary and Norma Smalley’s upcoming book: 4 Days to a Forever Marriage: Choosing Love or Anger. It is due out October 2011 by New Leaf Press.

Gary and Norma have been married for more than 40 years. They are the founders of the Smalley Relationship Center. Gary is one of the country’s best-known authors and speakers on relationships.

Gary and Norma’s newest book is a four day challenge of choosing love or anger in your marriage. At the end of each day’s challenge, there is a section to reflect and review what you’ve learned. There are questions to answer and write down to help you and your spouse talk about what you’ve learned, and help you apply those principles to your marriage.

One thing I really enjoyed about the book was the back and forth conversation between Gary and Norma. I like to hear both perspectives in marriage. I also enjoyed their honesty and willingness to share their past and present struggles.

In one section Norma expressed, “During hard times, when I don’t feel love toward Gary, I always remember that feelings change so many times during the day because situations change—but my decision to love him was a commitment for life.”

I love that even though they’ve been married for over 40 years, they still have to choose to love daily. You can feel their love for each other throughout the book, as well as their strong love for the Lord.

In one section, Gary and Norma talked about honoring one another. They used an example when Gary had a second publicity tour for one of his books. He honored his wife by putting her needs first and cancelling the tour. It truly showed his humility when he stated, “My fulfillment, after all, is in Christ, not in publicity tours.”

I highly recommend this book to all married couples, at any stage in life. I would also recommend it to those considering marriage. At the end of the book, there is a section for engaged couples, newly married couples, married couples with children, empty nesters, and couples who are remarried.

You can read more about the book at New Leaf Publishing Group. You can also add it to your wish list on Amazon, so you’ll know when it’s available.

*Thank you New Leaf Press for sharing this wonderful book with me.

NOW AVAILABLE!

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