Faith Filled Family Magazine December 2016 | Page 83

with the kitty or puppy than you.
Have you been working a lot
lately? Have you been harboring
a grudge against your partner
causing you to withdraw from
him or her? Are you guilty of
not giving your husband or wife
the type of attention and affection he or she needs? Second,
is there an unmet need of your
husband or wife you should fill?
Sometimes we express affection
the way we want it, not the way
they need it. Simple heart and
behavior changes on your part
may resolve the issue without
confrontation.
Find the right time to talk about
such an important topic with your
sweetheart when it is good for
both, instead of during the heat
of an argument. A knock-down,
drag-out fight simply becomes a
power match of the wills, which
leads to hurtful resentment. Approach the pet’s place in your
home with sensitivity and love
because you love your spouse.
Here are some tips to help you
and your Love consider this pet’s
role in your home:

1

.Make an agreement early
about whether or not to have
pets, which ones, and how many.

2

.Set ground rules together
about what is acceptable behaving when having a pet in your
home.
.Lovingly, but firmly bring your
concern to your Love’s attention. Begin together with prayer
over your discussion. Specific
statements with “I feel…” or “It
seems that…” are helpful to
avoid a battle for control. Allow
him or her to respond while lis-

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tening carefully and responding
appropriately.

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health concerns. What kind of attention is reasonable and what is
not? If the pet becomes jealous
when your spouse shifts more of
the attention from the pet back to
you, some pet training from your
veterinarian or a pet trainer may
be necessary.

.Review the vows you made
together on your wedding
day. Discuss what these promises meant then and what they
mean to both of you now. Answer
the question, “How does our pet
fit into our relationship?”
When you take your concerns
with love and respect to your
.Look through the Bible re- spouse before the Lord, clarity
garding marriage and family. will come in time. If resistance
Set priorities together on rela- creeps in, Christian counseling
tionships, including pets. Use could be valuable for both of
the Bible to help you both stay you to sort out what is really at
firmly grounded in God’s design the heart of the problem. Workfor marriage and family.
ing toward solutions together
will help you can grow closer to.Come up with a list of what gether. Your fur ry friend will also
you both believe is out-of- feel secure when the two of you
bounds when it comes to pets. settle its place in your hearts and
Should the pet live indoors or home.
outdoors? Will the pet be crated, have its own bed, or sleep Charlaine Martin, a freelance
in your room, among other pet- writer and personal trainer on
related issues.
www.totallyfit4life.net, lives in
Michigan with her husband. To.Set fair penalties for out-of- gether they enjoy their adult chilbounds pet attention. Allow- dren and nine active grandchiling animals to lick you in the face dren.
or on the mouth certainly poses

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