Book Review-The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse

I have to admit, when I cracked open this book I was a bit skeptical, ok, maybe I was very skeptical. I guess I have always held the opinion that "self help books" such as these were really just "fluff." In my past experiences with this type of book, I usually felt frustrated after realizing how much time I wasted with the book when I could of been doing better things. In other books, it seemed like I had to search and search for some concrete ideas or advice, but actually never really found anything.

Well, The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse by Art and Laraine Bennet, was quite different then these past books that I read, and I would recommended it for all marriages, whether troubled or not. I strongly believe that a marriage will work if two people decide to love and honor one another. But how do you honor someone day in and day out who drives you nuts because they are less sociable or need more quiet time than you do? These are the petty differences that exist in almost all marriages that make it "not so pleasant" as it could be, which also makes it difficult to grow in faith together as well. "The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse" introduced me to the concept that God made us all different and those differences are something to celebrate!

The authors break these "differences" that we all share into groups of four distinct temperament categories. By studying your temperament and the temperament of your spouse you can better learn why your spouse does those things that they do. And then, like magic, you can come to the realization that your spouse may not be intentionally inviting his friends over for dinner and giving you 5 minutes notice just to to bug you. Your spouse most likely does this because it reflects on what HIS needs are. The bottom line is communication and understanding are the key, and with the additional tool of knowledge of your spouses' temperament the understanding part gets much, much easier to accomplish.

The book provides great advice and is simple enough for anyone to grasp and understand. I also think it is magic because my husband authentically enjoyed reading parts of it with me.:) I think, for men, it must be enlightening for them to discover that there are other women out there who act just like their wife, and no they are not crazy, it's just their temperament!:)

You can purchase The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse at The wonderful Catholic Company online HERE.


(A favorite prayer of mine that you can say together with your spouse...maybe before reading this book!)


A Prayer of Spouses for Each Other

In the Name of the Father, The Son,& The Holy Spirit:

O LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR GOD, our Sweet Savior, Who taught us to pray always for each other, so that by thus fulfilling the holy law we will be made worthy of Thy mercy: look down with compassion on our married life and keep from all perilous falls, from enemies both visible and invisible, my husband and wife whom Thou has grant me, that we may pass our time together until the end with oneness of mind. Grant us health, strength, and fullness of wisdom enlightened from above, so that we may be able to fulfill our duties all the days of this life according to Thy will and commandments. Protect and keep us from temptations, and may we be able to bear and conquer those temptations that come upon us. Strengthen us in right faith, strong hope, and perfect love, so that together we may do good deeds and that we may order all our life according to Thy divine ordinances and commandments.

O Greatly Merciful Lord, hear us who humbly pray to Thee, and send Thy divine blessing in truth on our married life and on all our good deeds, for it is Thine to hear and have mercy on us, O our God, and to Thee we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.