So What’s There to Talk About?

In this chapter, the author starts out with a personal account of a moving incident in his life where a music minister made the following comment to him:

If we Christians are in any business at all, it’s the communication business.

And he’s right.  Whether it’s preaching the gospel, teaching others to make disciples, or admonishing a brother we’re communicating.  In fact, Priolo states that there are over forty communication commands in the New Testament epistles!

The point that he’s trying to make is that we have to be communicating with one another if we’re going to be able to experience the level of intimacy that is called for in marriage.  The degree to which we are willing to reveal ourselves to each other will have a direct impact on how close we can get to one another.  That’s why the questions that he had us guys ask our wives in the last section cut so close to the heart.  We have to be willing to be vulnerable if we want to learn our wife’s heart.

So, practically, this means that we, as husbands, need to be talking to our wives.  If you need a handful of suggestions about what to talk about, he provides a few:

1. Bible Doctrine – Does your wife feel comfortable talking with you about what the Bible says?  Asking you questions?
2. Your home – It’s the “base of operations” for your wife’s ministry.  “The condition and appearance of your home is probably more important to her than you realize.”
3. The children – Dad, you’re the manager in the home, and you’re the one ultimately responsible.  You should be talking about your children.
4. Your job – Since she’s your helper she may be able to help you better if she knows what’s gone on during your day– no matter how much you don’t want to talk about it.
5. Her family (your in-laws) – There have been many Biblical conflicts that had inlaws at the center of them.  You need to have Biblical conversations about her family and their influence.
6. Her friends – Do you care about who she chooses as friends?  They can influence her for good or evil.  You have an outside view, you should be giving her the benefit of your perspective.
7. Her ministries (inside and outside of the home) – “Life is a ministry.”  Are you encouraging her to minister outside the home?  Are you helping her discover her gifts for service?
8. Her goals for the future – Personal goals, goals of mutual interest, and other goals she has should be exciting for us as well.
9. Specific ways you can be a better husband and father – Again with humility.  But then again, she is a helper and has a perspective that we don’t.  “When was the last time you asked your wife for her evaluation of how you’re doing in these areas?”
10. Things you do which bother her – This topic is guaranteed to provide you with hours of interesting discussion.

Whew– and that’s only to get you started!

By now you know, the link is to where you can pick up the book. This post is all mine.

Husband's Owners Manual for Their Wife

• I Wish She Came With an Owners Manual
• A Woman’s Roles
• 11 Questions to Ask Your Wife
• So What’s There to Talk About?