Episode Transcript
Transcripts are displayed as originally observed. Some content, including advertisements may have changed.
Use Ctrl + F to search
0:05
Some couples love to have a date
0:08
night or a candlelight dinner or walking
0:10
hand-in-hand along a beach, but what
0:12
if that isn't romance to you? I'm
0:15
John Fuller joined by Dr. Greg Smalley
0:17
and his wife Erin, who lead the
0:19
Focus Marriage Department. And Erin,
0:21
I'm pretty sure you've met a couple or
0:23
two or three or more in
0:25
which one has a kind of
0:27
a romance love language that the other doesn't quite
0:30
get. Absolutely. And there's
0:32
multiple because we are all
0:34
different. And sometimes it
0:36
comes in the form of
0:39
one being more romantic than the other.
0:41
A couple comes to mind that I worked
0:43
with several years back and
0:45
the husband actually was the more
0:47
romantic one. And he tried and
0:49
he tried and he tried. And
0:52
she just was not romantic. He'd take
0:54
her out in these dates and she
0:57
just was kind of not into it.
0:59
It wasn't her thing. She
1:01
didn't feel connected, going
1:03
and doing romantic type
1:05
dates. So he of
1:07
course felt rejected. So it could have been
1:09
just like mac and cheese at home or whatever. Pizza
1:12
at home, watching a movie. But
1:14
he actually felt rejected. But of
1:16
course that's his to manage and
1:19
I encouraged him to do that, but also to
1:21
figure out how do we do this in a
1:23
way that works for both? Yes.
1:25
You have stressed, the two of you have
1:27
stressed the importance of communication,
1:29
especially about this kind of
1:32
thing. So let's
1:34
go ahead and listen to a couple
1:36
that have been married since I believe
1:38
1979. They have some
1:40
great insights about marriage, Bill and
1:43
Pam Farrell. Let's go ahead and listen
1:45
now as they chatted with Focus President
1:47
Jim Daley talking about what to do
1:49
if romance isn't really happening. Speak
1:52
to the person who, and again, the shoe
1:54
can be on either foot. This could be the
1:56
wife or the husband. And
1:58
Again, I'm not meaning to pick on. A bit
2:00
type person in your mind. Picture
2:02
an engineer and accountant. I love
2:04
you guys are you gals? But
2:06
you know they? They kind of
2:09
think in a linear way of
2:11
speech. Leper says, well, romance. It's
2:13
not one of my spiritual guess.
2:16
Because I am so logical. You know
2:18
she's gotta cover some of that for
2:20
me. And. We do encourage and.
2:23
Lives. In particular is sometimes a
2:26
woman's like I just want him to
2:28
romance me I said. Okay,
2:30
does he do anything nice for Yale
2:32
Law? Yeah he. Puts. Like snow
2:35
tires on my car and like that his
2:37
way of saying i love you I want
2:39
you to be safe so sometimes we just
2:41
need to put new lenses I here either
2:44
things that they're doing and then thanks Sam
2:46
Pam. Let. Me: Let me push back on
2:48
that and I'm in a good way
2:50
for women actually to say or that
2:52
you know that's not communicating with me.
2:54
I appreciate that it's nicely wants me
2:56
to be saved, said doesn't feel romantic
2:58
regs. ano tires right? So strike one.
3:02
From what I would say to the guys
3:04
and it is an uber you sept As
3:06
my dad was an engineer half expecting I
3:09
try to say such as an engineer yes
3:11
and what I would say to use Use
3:13
Your strengths. Rather, Than fight against
3:15
them. Hundred. Built you
3:17
a building. Not. Affect
3:20
the engineer outdoor. I would say there is
3:22
a formula that works with your wife. Now
3:25
okay and if you can, look for the formula. Now.
3:27
Parts of the formula you might be
3:29
uncomfortable with. Because part of
3:31
the formula might be writing her a
3:34
love note are saying something really complimentary
3:36
To hurt by that there's a formula
3:38
that works as why she married you
3:40
is because she appreciates the fact that
3:42
you can put stuff in the formulas
3:44
so figure out the formula and then
3:46
executed. You. Right now are
3:48
trying to act like or how do
3:50
I become the guy on the movies
3:53
whose real kind, insensitive and thoughtful. The
3:55
Hidden: Marry that guy she married you.
3:58
But. You can use your strength to figure out. The
4:00
formula looks like and my youngest son's
4:02
gotten very effective is so romantic. Ah
4:04
that's your He has studied, his wife
4:06
and his figured out what works with
4:08
her and he repeats it often. And
4:11
it works. And it worked as meet that
4:13
need for her. Because because again, he took
4:15
time yeah to study. Who see is. Not.
4:18
Try to put her into a mold of what would be
4:20
easy for he. Unnaturally lot romance is
4:22
is is taking their time
4:24
to observe your main and
4:26
then appreciate in value them
4:28
as so. There's nothing more
4:30
romantic than being told. Wow
4:33
thank you for being you
4:35
and it isn't that fascinating
4:37
one or favorite stories that
4:39
is an mina like awful
4:41
flying spaghetti eats as other
4:43
has spent his didn't have
4:45
a lot of money and
4:47
sell he just bought a
4:49
dozen roses on sale at
4:51
Intelsat. As five bucks where we
4:53
are friends and so. Back when
4:55
I know that I have no
4:57
offense. Has already by the flower build
4:59
her of like amazing but I'm he
5:01
said okay I will deliver these one
5:03
at a time. see just handing the
5:06
hub okay to her and love you
5:08
baby I'm such a new sit down
5:10
and then he would bring y en
5:12
rose and he'd say i love ah
5:14
what a great mom you are Then
5:16
he bring another rose and thank you
5:18
for being such an amazing cut thought
5:21
Wow Roses the twelve compliments every woman
5:23
lead lap. That's so again it's like
5:25
maximizing. Your gift. By. Adding
5:27
who am I giving away every hour or gotta
5:29
do it for the road. Added
5:32
over twelve way or the last. Five
5:36
years later, a little girl is that.
5:42
Will bring. What a touching story the feral
5:44
shared their in disguise. we might be thinking
5:47
flowers. Why are they such a big deal
5:49
to my wife. Would
5:51
somehow the your what's your answer
5:53
to that yeah wire flowers to
5:55
to be deal of course with
5:57
air and City here next to
5:59
me. That's probably something that's the
6:01
would be good for me to
6:03
ask. but as I think about
6:05
the importance of flour I think
6:07
it's because there's a range of
6:09
of messages the can be attached
6:12
to flowers to think about it.
6:14
Flowers my be used one day
6:16
as an apology pants I was
6:18
an idiot last night. am so
6:20
sorry years Ceos twelve red roses
6:22
to make up for whatever happened.
6:24
I think it can be a
6:26
thoughtfulness gesture so I know there's
6:28
been times the errands been facing.
6:30
Something difficult I sauntered non thinking
6:32
about her my bringer Some flowers
6:34
a could be expressing gratitude and
6:36
thank you for all the you
6:38
do or just for who you
6:41
are and. Again, This is
6:43
this is away the so that this
6:45
level of a preseason the can be
6:47
a part of celebrating he and rather
6:49
that's for a birthday for a special
6:52
holiday. Any of those I think it
6:54
can be a part of empathy. Here
6:56
you think about we we might go
6:58
and see someone at the hospital or
7:01
who's going to something toss in his
7:03
sister's sign of ma'am we're with you
7:05
like we know you're hurting and fires
7:08
can be a great way to say
7:10
that. So I think for guys it's
7:12
understanding that that there can be some
7:14
beautiful messages wrapped within these flowers and
7:17
in they can be used in a
7:19
variety of ways. So all that said,
7:21
I guess I would turn tubes to
7:23
my beautiful flower loving wife and goes
7:26
that is that accurate or what would
7:28
you say low rises, wire virus on
7:30
board times. Sell impressed that you came
7:32
up with all those. Meanings. I
7:35
live not about all about that. I've given you
7:37
flowers of the year as a half as. I've
7:39
never really thought about the different messages
7:42
that flowers communicate. And it's
7:44
always. Thought it's gonna say
7:46
with always positive but in some ways
7:48
and mean even you're making amends That's
7:50
not a negative thing bad it's an
7:53
attempt at repairing something that had have
7:55
any. So I would say when I
7:57
get father's for new I mean really.
8:00
All the different reasons bed all I
8:02
know as. Far. As make me happy. That
8:04
So what A gift card? Isn't
8:07
teams your house or the John
8:09
in looked at or the island Direct
8:11
hits in his has to have like
8:14
six different bouquets of flowers. Okay right
8:16
now and to celebrate her birthday
8:18
he was fun to watch all of
8:20
her friends really express their love and
8:23
celebrating her her life. With flowers in
8:25
the different types of flowers the
8:27
says there are lying now sign a
8:29
hard to in there's a message You
8:32
know how, you're right, you're not. Gonna
8:34
go there. By the way, Full disclosure:
8:36
There is no flower trade association behind
8:38
what we're doing here. Is the A
8:40
business? Just an observation based on the
8:43
feral story. But I'm with you, I
8:45
am. We used to live in Tyler,
8:47
Texas. I could get a a dozen
8:49
little roses. They were Beagle Boomers are
8:51
anything but a smaller roses from Feals.
8:53
Because they grow lot of flowers in
8:56
East Texas, I could get a dozen
8:58
roses for embark know out fifty or
9:00
two dollars is like I can do
9:02
this. So I made flowers a regular
9:04
part of our life. Then we moved
9:06
here and they're not quite so Chief.
9:10
Assists So yeah this do a
9:12
second more. a guy I met
9:14
a rush like lowers throughout. This
9:16
of his flowers are part of
9:18
your romantic love language. I'm great.
9:20
If they're not, maybe it's time
9:22
to start. And for more ideas
9:24
on integrating romance in the your
9:26
marriage? Request the Farrell's book for
9:28
gift of any amount. Make a
9:30
donation to focus on the family
9:32
either. monthly pledge. Or one time
9:35
gifts and I ask for your copy
9:37
of the book. Men are like waffles,
9:39
women are like spaghetti. And if you're
9:42
wondering, does my spouse want more or
9:44
different kinds of romance? well we're going
9:46
to point you to have free online
9:49
marriage assessments. This has a number of
9:51
talking points: The junior spouse can unpack
9:53
and discuss, communicate about. It's free. It'll
9:55
take you maybe ten minutes. Most okay,
9:58
fifteen at the most. Ill
10:00
give you some really good insights into
10:02
what's working where you can grow and
10:04
were in like over to that is
10:06
well in the show. Notes: Will
10:09
hear more from billion Pam Feral next time
10:11
as the sheer about making the most of
10:13
the moment. And for now on behalf of
10:15
Greg in Air and Smalley in the entire
10:17
team. I'm John Fuller and thanks for listening
10:19
to the focus on the family marriage. Been
10:21
a guest. Is
10:27
your marriage holding on by a thread? For
10:30
deep hurt you need deep healing that only
10:32
comes from the Lord. And you'll find it
10:34
at a Focus on the Family Hope Restored
10:37
intensive in Michigan. Our licensed Christian
10:39
counselors will help you and your spouse get to
10:41
the root of your issues in just 3-5 days.
10:44
And it works! 80%
10:46
of the couples are still married 2
10:48
years after attending. Learn more at hoperestored.com
10:51
and talk with a trusted advisor. That's
10:54
hoperestored.com
Podchaser is the ultimate destination for podcast data, search, and discovery. Learn More