Musts for Marriage Part I
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These musts, resulting from decades of observing marriage, will help you strengthen your marriage. 

Core Values  A core value is one that defines your life.  It may be a political orientation, faith, or being a vegetarian; without it, you are not you.  When core values differ between husband and wife, strife erupts.  List your core values and your mate’s.  Have your spouse do the same then compare notes to discover your core values and in what order you arranged them.  Discuss any differences that might cause friction and aim toward agreeing on core values.  Be careful.

Time Together  Too many couples spend too little time connecting, understanding, and communicating.  We recommend investing time every day to connect over a cup of coffee, tea, or other reason to talk. The discussion need not be heavy, just a “how you doing” time; use any of these musts to provide food for discussion points.

Sex  The tie that binds. Though sex occupies a small amount of clock time, it is a great barometer of the marriage condition.  Sex creates intimacy, comfort, and security; when sex is absent, these connections loosen and the marriage drifts like an unsecured boat.  However, the sex must be mutual and not one sided unless by agreement.  While a great marriage yields great sex; the reverse is true – great sex can strengthen a marriage.  Discuss the frequency and quality of sex in your marriage, any obvious roadblocks, and find agreement to strengthen this important area.  Marriage Musts Part II