Cherish: The One Word That Changes Everything for Your Marriage

by Gary Thomas

Overview

Gary Thomas, pastor and bestselling author of Sacred Marriage, believes that one simple word can bring hope, light, and life into any marriage: Cherish.

Most marriages survive by gritting teeth and holding on. But what if surviving marriage wasn't the goal? What if we aimed to thrive instead? In Cherish, Thomas teaches us that although there are a countless number of marriages consisting of two people just going through the motions, there are real ways this pattern can be reversed: when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another in their everyday actions and words.

The way we treat something acknowledges whether we cherish it or hold it with indifference or contempt. To truly cherish something is to go out of our way to show it off, protect it, and honor it. We want others to see and recognize and affirm the value that we see. Thomas reminds us that in a world desperate for marriage redemption, the act of cherishing is needed now more than ever.

Cherishing your spouse will elevate your marriage relationally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. You will set different goals for your relationship, and you'll see your marriage with fresh eyes. Through personal stories, real-world examples, and timeless biblical truths, Thomas shares the tools you need to turn your marriage around, including:

• Using your mind to change your heart
• Sacrificing for your spouse
• Praying with intentionality
• Prioritizing your life partner

Through the biblical act of cherishing, we can empower our spouses to become who they are called by God to be, and in the process to become more of who we are called to be, creating a marriage that feels more precious, more connected, and more satisfying. If you're ready to revolutionize your relationship, it's time to learn how to truly Cherish it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310347262
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	01/10/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,085,134
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.65(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Gary Thomas's writing and speaking draw people closer to Christ and closer to others. He is the author of twenty books that together have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. These books include Sacred Marriage, Cherish, Married Sex, and the Gold Medallion-award winning Authentic Faith.

Gary holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Western Washington University, a master's degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR). He serves as a teaching pastor at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 11

Foreword Lisa Thomas 13

1 To Love and to Cherish 15

2 The Only Man/Woman in the World 29

3 Marriage as Ballet 43

4 Your Honor 55

5 When Cherishing Goes to War 75

6 A Bride Made Beautiful 91

7 I Almost Quit 111

8 Cherishing Words 115

9 Cherish Your Unique Spouse 137

10 This Is How Your Spouse Stumbles 151

11 The Art of Cherishing Your Spouse 167

12 Easier to Cherish 187

13 Biblical Power to Keep On Cherishing 207

Epilogue 225

Notes 231

Editorial Reviews

11/14/2016
Thomas (Sacred Marriage), author of 18 books and Writer in Residence at Second Baptist in Houston., believes that the word cherish can transform a ho-hum marriage into a spectacular one. Thomas, who specializes in writing and speaking on the values that sustain marital relationships, is adamant about his belief that when spouses start to cherish each other, they take their intimacy to an entirely different level. For him, cherish is more than just a word placed strategically within a marriage ceremony; to cherish one’s spouse means to showcase their excellence to others. The 13 chapters are full of practical recommendations that both partners can begin applying to build or repair a marriage. Often addressing the husband and then the wife, Thomas describes the fundamentals of the cherishing bond, such as the importance of each partner being seen as the only person for his or her spouse and strategies for being patient with a partner’s sins. Readers will find instructions and inspiration throughout this helpful, clear primer on taking love to the next level and strategies for understanding their marriage partners through both happy and difficult times. Agent: Curtis Yates, Yates & Yates. (Jan.)This review has been updated to more accurately reflect the author's teaching position.

Publishers Weekly

Sacred Marriage has become a classic, must-read book. Now Gary Thomas has written another wonderful book, Cherish, that focuses not just on loving your spouse, but on cherishing—treasuring, honoring, holding dear with tenderness, protecting, nurturing, and wanting to showcase—your spouse. This must-read book will be a tremendous help and blessing to couples and their marriages.

Siang-Yang Tan

Many of us vowed “to love and to cherish” when we married. We hear a lot of good advice about loving our spouses, and that’s certainly important—but there’s more. Gary Thomas shows us how to put love into action through cherishing the one we love.

president of Focus on the Family Jim Daly

Two words come to mind every time I pick up a book by Gary Thomas: profound and practical. I often cover relationships on my radio show, and nobody articulates God’s deepest desire for our relationships quite like Gary Thomas does. He’s both convicting and encouraging, challenging and empowering. If your marriage feels dull and lackluster, read thoughtfully and prayerfully through Gary’s new book, Cherish. You’re only pages away from a new day and a new way of relating to your spouse.

Susie Larson

Get ready to be inspired! This book is sure to lift your marriage to a higher level—that’s what it did for us. But Gary does more than inspire. He equips. He shows us how to lovingly care for and treasure our spouse like never before. Don’t miss out on this incredibly practical message. Your marriage will never be the same.

#1 New York Times bestselling authors of Saving Yo Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott

Cherish is full of wisdom, practical advice, and candor on a subject so personal and sacred—how to live the marriage you want every day. Gary Thomas brings truth and reminds us of Jesus in the midst of our earthly relationships.

author of Nothing to Prove and founder of IF:G Jennie Allen

Every married person desires to love and cherish their spouse. Most of us have a sense of what it means to love well. Few of us have a vision of what it means to cherish our spouse. Gary Thomas paints a vivid picture of what it means to truly cherish another human being. This book reveals new pathways to grow a healthy, dynamic, and life-giving marriage.

Dr. Kevin G. Harney

There is nothing more beautiful than to be in a relationship with someone who is supposed to love you . . . and they actually love you. Cherish helps bring home that sweet, happy spot in marriage.

president of American Association of Christian Cou Dr. Tim Clinton

Gary Thomas has done it again! He has a way of shifting my marriage paradigm to shed brilliant light on what it means practically to honor God in my marriage. By bringing to life one little word, Cherish will do the same for you.

president of Authentic Intimacy Dr. Juli Slattery

I’ve always been a huge fan of Gary Thomas’s books, but Cherish is special. It shows couples how to turn disappointing marriages into delightful ones. I especially appreciated the chapter on honoring each other. As I work with couples in not just disappointing marriages but destructive ones, dishonoring is a significant issue. I’m grateful for Gary’s validation of the fact that regularly withholding cherish in one’s marriage can rise to the level of emotional abuse.

Leslie Vernick

Every couple gets married with great intentions for their marriage. Their marriage is going to be different; it’s going to be special. But many couples lose their purpose, and life gets busy, hardships come, and the marriage they have isn’t the marriage they wanted. Every couple wants to improve their marriage, but many don’t know where to start. That’s what I love about Cherish. Gary Thomas gets to the heart of marriage. Soak in his wisdom, apply these principles, and watch God transform your marriage relationship into something you cherish.

Justin Davis

Gary Thomas has given a deep understanding and application of a key biblical concept that is sure to take any married couple who applies it to the next level. A must-read for every couple who wishes to grow their relationship.

president of The Urban Alternative Dr. Tony Evans