The Middle Years of Marriage | Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

No matter how long you've been married, there's some great advice in this episode! Greg and Erin discuss the challenges and opportunities in the middle years of marriage, focusing on issues like health struggles, retirement, and caring for aging parents with Larry McCall. They emphasize the importance of preventing boredom, pursuing wonder in marriage and life, and the value of counsel. Larry shares his journey of understanding the deeper purpose of marriage, the importance of love based on God's love rather than reciprocation, and insights into being intentional in relationships. We have a free PDF for you to ask your spouse some deep questions, along with practical advice for maintaining connection and romance in the later stages of marriage. Additionally, we answer a listener's question about the challenge of encouraging a spouse to seek therapy for personal growth and healing, underscoring how to be supportive and prayerful rather than insistent. ✅ Topics: Preventing marital boredom in the middle years Redefining romance in later life How caregiving can deepen connection Why your grandparent role matters spiritually Intentional legacy-building in marriage How to lovingly encourage your spouse toward counseling 💛 Helpful Resources: Free Marriage Assessment: https://bit.ly/4cncOKw Marriage Articles: https://bit.ly/3C60vEC Marriage Counselors: https://bit.ly/3Yz0eRQ Hope Restored Marriage Intensive: https://bit.ly/4mgAjtm Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage Podcast: https://bit.ly/4fvCl4r Send us your questions: https://bit.ly/4aaiMOn ▶️ Follow us: Instagram:   / focusmarriage   Facebook:   / focusonthefamily   Website: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marr... Call our Counseling Line for help: 1-800-A-FAMILY (1-800-232-6459) ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 – Grandparents’ spiritual role 01:00 – Middle years of marriage: What to expect 02:30 – Larry McCall shares 50 years of wisdom 04:00 – When your marriage “bottoms out” 06:00 – Learning to love like Christ 08:00 – Why marriage love isn’t always mutual 10:00 – Grace as the foundation 12:00 – Curiosity and change in long marriages 14:00 – Mentoring younger couples 16:00 – Caring for aging parents together 18:00 – Grandparenting with purpose 20:00 – Building a legacy of faith 23:00 – Setting boundaries with grandparents 24:00 – Pursuing romance intentionally 27:00 – Legacy of connection in marriage 32:00 – Rediscovering your spouse 35:00 – Vulnerable marriage conversation starters 37:00 – Encourage your spouse toward therapy 41:00 – Praying instead of pressuring 44:00 – Listener question: therapy hesitance #focusonthefamily #focusonthefamilymarriage #SeasonedMarriage #MarriageAfter50 #GrandparentingWithPurpose #ChristianMarriage #MarriageTherapy #MarriageLegacy #GregAndErinSmalley #HelpingYourFamilyThriveInChrist