Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage
Gary Thomas, pastor and bestselling author of Sacred Marriage, believes that one simple word can bring hope, light, and life into any marriage: Cherish.
Most marriages survive by gritting teeth and holding on. But what if surviving marriage wasn't the goal? What if we aimed to thrive instead? In Cherish, Thomas teaches us that although there are a countless number of marriages consisting of two people just going through the motions, there are real ways this pattern can be reversed: when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another in their everyday actions and words.
The way we treat something acknowledges whether we cherish it or hold it with indifference or contempt. To truly cherish something is to go out of our way to show it off, protect it, and honor it. We want others to see and recognize and affirm the value that we see. Thomas reminds us that in a world desperate for marriage redemption, the act of cherishing is needed now more than ever.
Cherishing your spouse will elevate your marriage relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. You will set different goals for your relationship, and you'll see your marriage with fresh eyes. Through personal stories, real-world examples, and timeless biblical truths, Thomas shares the tools you need to turn your marriage around, including:
- Using your mind to change your heart
- Sacrificing for your spouse
- Praying with intentionality
- Prioritizing your life partner
Through the biblical act of cherishing, we can empower our spouses to become who they are called by God to be, and in the process to become more of who we are called to be, creating a marriage that feels more precious, more connected, and more satisfying. If you're ready to revolutionize your relationship, it's time to learn how to truly Cherish it.
Top Highlights
“If you want to be fully satisfied in your marriage, if you want your wife to feel cherished, then mentally treat your wife like Eve. Let her be, in your mind, in that way, the only woman in the world. Say with King Solomon, ‘My dove, my perfect one, is the only one’” (Page 30)
“Love is giving for the sake of our spouse’s becoming” (Page 52)
“Learning to cherish means learning to be content playing second violin. This is at its root a very biblical thing to do. Jesus alluded to this when he said, ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve’ (Matthew 20:28). If we want to be like Jesus, we have to look for opportunities to play second violin.” (Page 48)
“Why not help your spouse get stronger by cherishing them rather than confirming and increasing their weakness by treating them with contempt? Wouldn’t you rather be married to someone who is improving rather than sliding backward?” (Page 106)
“Cherishing calls us to go to war against contempt. That’s because cherishing is all about protecting our spouses—their reputation, their personhood, their sense of value and worth.” (Page 76)
Product Details
- Title : Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage
- Author: Thomas, Gary
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9780310347279