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I watched in disbelief as Pat, the forty-year old wife of Jeff, her forty-five year old husband, froze amidst the hail of verbal challenges by her pontificating husband. To make matters worse, he seemed oblivious to his behavior, even under our watchful eye during their Marriage Intensive. Pat looked down as Jeff stared at her, his eyes bulging from his intensity. He continued his incessant criticism, seemingly unaware that he had lost any connection to his wife he may have previously had. Frozen in fear, she no longer talked back, slumping further in his chair. She simply sat stiffly and listened to his tirade-or at least appeared to be listening. I wondered about when I should interject my critical impressions.

This is a religious short story written by Alexis Sullivan. In this story God (called Love) has created Earth, watches our birth, is with us throughout our life, and holds us when our life ends and we reach heaven.

And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,Our Savior was born on that first Christmas Day!The Father was watching in heaven above,He sent for His angels, His couriers of love.

No one needs to watch the news every night, unless one is married to the anchor. No one dies proud that they spent their life keeping their house cleaner than anyone else in the family ... If your children grow up to become adults who spend this one precious life in a spin of multitasking, stress, and achievement, and then work out four times a week, will you be pleased that your kids also pursued this kind of whirlwind life? If you want more for your kids (lives well spent in hard work and savoring all that is lovely), why are you living in this manic way?

Why do couples argue? After all, we all know that arguing is definitely not an effective form of communication. Long ago, I figured if I knew the real reason why couples argue, I could create an antidote to arguing that would actually work. After many years of watching so-called lovers beat each

Divorce. Most people would be hard-pressed to think of a family who hasn't been scarred by this word. It's a word that doesn't escape us- from the youngest child to the aging parents having to watch their adult children's lives overturned by its whisper. Regardless of ages and stages, socio-economic class, race, religious belief, or sexual orientation, it is a word that typically leaves destruction in its wake. But, unlike so many other tragedies that plague us, it is one that can be avoided.