Tue. Aug 5th, 2025

Take Your Marriage From Good to Great

marriage

marriage
Authors and psychologists Greg Smalley and Shawn Stoever draw on years of counseling experience and discuss traits of marriages that go beyond “good” and become “great” in their new book, The Wholehearted Marriage: Fully Engaging Your Most Important Relationship. They coined the term “wholehearted” to describe a marriage in which “both spouses have two fully open and engaged hearts.”

Busy schedules cause many modern spouses to become increasingly disconnected from each other, Smalley believes, which drains the passion that should be present in marriage and keeps the couple from an enriching relationship.

“We are moving at an ever-increasing speed toward who knows what and at a cost of who knows what,” Smalley said. “At warp speed, we miss out on chances to wholeheartedly engage our spouse, open our hearts for intimate sharing and have fun without interruptions. We just don’t have enough time for each other.”

Another obstacle to passion is when hearts are guarded, possibly for fear of rejection or pain. But feelings that block intimacy often lead to spouses feeling empty, disconnected and merely “coexisting.”

Smalley said that “wholehearted” couples “rejoice and celebrate each other,” sharing moments of joy, laughter and adventure as well as grief and sorrow.

“Simply put, hearts are fully engaged and connected,” he said. “With two hearts fully open and engaged, spouses are free to love without reservations. They are interested in fully pursuing each other, which communicates desire and makes the other feel wanted.”

“Our goal is to help you understand the heart, value it, take care of it and use it to bless your spouse,” the authors write.

Click here to purchase The Wholehearted Marriage.

Leave a Reply

By submitting your comment, you agree to receive occasional emails from [email protected], and its authors, including insights, exclusive content, and special offers. You can unsubscribe at any time. (U.S. residents only.)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Podcasts

More News
Stormproof: How to Stand Strong When Everything Falls Apart
Stormproof: How to Stand Strong When Everything Falls Apart
John Bevere Exposes the Silent Threat Facing the Modern Church
John Bevere Exposes the Silent Threat Facing the Modern Church
A Christian Guide to the 7 Deadly Sins
A Christian Guide to the 7 Deadly Sins
How Genesis and Revelation Connect: the Beginning and the End
How Genesis and Revelation Connect: the Beginning and the End
Have You Committed the Unpardonable Sin? The Truth from Scripture
Have You Committed the Unpardonable Sin? The Truth from Scripture
Deliverance Is a Decision Part Two: Jesus Healing on Shabbat
Deliverance Is a Decision Part Two: Jesus Healing on Shabbat
Demons In Hell
Demons In Hell
The End of the 10 Kings
The End of the 10 Kings
10 Steps to Honor God and Be Less Contentious
10 Steps to Honor God and Be Less Contentious
Deliverance Is a Decision Part One: Jesus Healing on Shabbat
Deliverance Is a Decision Part One: Jesus Healing on Shabbat
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Latest Videos
113K Subscribers
1.3K Videos
12.6M Views

Copy link