Have you ever received a beautifully wrapped gift—complete with the perfect bow and silver paper—and just let it sit there? Of course not! The excitement of a gift comes from opening it to see what's inside.

In this episode, Heather shares a powerful metaphor: Your marriage is a gift from God. But often, life gets messy. The "cats" of life chew on the bow, the paper gets torn, and sometimes we get so hurt or annoyed that we pack the gift back up and stick it on a high shelf. Heather encourages us to take that box back down, unwrap it with God's help, and rediscover the incredible "gift" He intended for us to have.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• The Three-Stranded Cord: Marriage was created by God. When you lean into Him and pour your heart into the Lord, your marriage becomes a cord that is not easily broken.

• The "Messy" Reality: Every marriage gets "smudged and dirty." Even in marriage ministry, Brian and Heather experience the bumps in the road. You are not alone in the struggle.

• The Shelf Life: Staying together "for the kids" or "because it's expected" is like leaving your marriage in a box on a shelf. It leaves both spouses feeling alone and broken.

• Be the Catalyst: You don't have to wait for your spouse to change. You can be the one to show grace, offer mercy, and act as the catalyst for the amazing marriage God intended.

✨ Reflection Questions

1. Is your marriage currently "unwrapped" and active, or is it sitting on a shelf?

2. What is one thing you can do today to "pour love" on your spouse, regardless of what you see coming back to you?

3. Are you willing to offer grace and forgiveness even if you haven't been asked for it yet?

🗓️ Join the Experience!

Ready to take your marriage "off the shelf"? Join Brian and Heather for a hands-on, kinesthetic workshop:

The Communication Experience Webinar

• When: Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• What: A 2-hour immersive experience to help you find your "breakthrough" and learn tools to connect deeper than ever before.

• Register: https://www.lovehowdeep.com/communication-experience-webinar

🔗 Connect with Love How Deep

If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Follow, and Subscribe to stay updated on all our new content!

• Website: https://www.lovehowdeep.com/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovehowdeep

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@lovehowdeepmarriage

A Final Prayer from Heather: "I pray for your marriages. I pray that you find encouragement through the things we share and that you have an amazing life together."