When I marry a couple, I have them read three books during their premarital sessions. Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together will be one of these three. 

Marriage is supposed to be the one relationship where you can be you. You in all your strengths, weaknesses and sin. You without the worry of judgement from others. You naked. No, not literally, but the figurative aspect of being able to bear all without judgement. This is how God intended it from the very beginning. 

The stories the Driscoll's tell are heartbreaking because so many marriages never find this level of intimacy. So many people are dazed and confused. They are numb because their marriage is broken and they don't know what to do about it.

The Driscoll's wrote this book to help. To show people that there will be struggles, but there is hope, tremendous hope, to work through every struggle. They pull back the curtain into their own marriage and personal lives. They pull back the curtain to a level that is somewhat uncomfortable. They show that even for them, people that God has done so much with, things are far from perfect, and God is working inside of them as well. They are not theologians telling us things about marriage that have no application to real life. They are real life practitioners trying to take the theology and work it into their lives. 

They answer so many helpful questions for couples, but the most important thing they give in this book is...

Husbands and wives should first be friends. 

That isn't exactly novel, but in their research, they saw nothing written about it. 

It got me to thinking, "How good is Nichole and my friendship?"

This question has to be something we are continually wrestling with. We can call our spouse our friend, but is that really just a front to cover for our struggles? 

Turned practical, what is something you do in order to ensure deeper friendship with your spouse?

I give the book 4 (out of 5) stars. 

**Just to let you know, I did receive this book as a preview copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers through their BookSneeze program. I am required to review it. I am not required to give a positive review. Also, the link above is an affiliate link. Any link like this will help turn what I do here into food for my family.**