How to have a Happy Marriage in 15 Seconds a Day

Last updated on: October 1, 2012 at 10:27 pm by marcusbrotherton

How to have a Happy Marriage in 15 Seconds a Day 2012-10-01T22:27:50-06:00 marcusbrotherton

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Gather ‘round boys, and listen in.

This here piece of advice I got years ago from Crazy Ned Van der Meyer, an 88-year-old Holstein farmer living on a lushly plowed dirt patch in Custer, Washington.

Crazy Ned had fathered six kids and been happily hitched to the same good woman since he was 20 and she was 17.

He knew powerful secrets about marriage, he said. Yet what Crazy Ned told me sounded too easy to be true, and when I dared question its credibility, Crazy Ned grinned like a Buick and answered cryptically, “Well, when it comes to thick headedness and wise living, you know the Dutch.”

I just shrugged.

“Here’s what you do,” Crazy Ned said, his voice hushed to a whisper. “When you come home from work each day, the first thing you do inside the front door is give your wife a 15 second kiss on the lips.”

I nodded, waiting for the rest of the advice.

“That’s it,” Crazy Ned said flatly.

“That’s it?” I asked.

“You might want to chomp a stick of Wrigley’s so you don’t taste like a coffee cup,” Crazy Ned added, “and as yer kissing her you can count to 15 in yer mind if you want. Picture it—fifteen seconds is a long time when it comes to a daily smooch. Scientists will tell you it sets the chemicals in yer brain to firing. But I don’t know nothing about science. I just figure it sets both of your dispositions right, and everything else good will come from that.”

Years have passed, and Crazy Ned Van der Meyer is gone now. In his honor, I’m passing along that advice from Crazy Ned to you and letting it stand.

First thing inside the front door, greet your significant other with a 15-second kiss on the lips.

Go on, give it a try.

Question: What other sound marriage advice have you heard?

You might also like …

Easy Breathing with the Young Pirate

How Effective is Your Willpower?

The Precise Moment You Train For

marriage

relationships

Previous Post

September 26, 2012

Adults Would Rather Not Know

Next Post

October 2, 2012 A Contract for Men

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Giveaway Book Review Bullying Career Christmas Church devotion Discipleship Donald Miller Drugs & Alcohol Easter eternity evangelism Family food giving thanks God humor James H. Pence Jonathan McKee Leadership love Marcus Brotherton marriage masculinity men's ministry men's studies movies music Parenting Pastoring patriotism persecution pilgrim politics pop culture Prayer Prison Ministry prosperity religion Saul secularism sex Social Media Television Thanksgiving Uncategorized women Worship youth culture

Select a Month December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

39 70 66 27