Want a Better Marriage? Don’t Try This At Home!   by Nina Roesner

The Respect Dare
Want a Better Marriage?
Cincinnati Author and Trainer Writes Book for Wives with a Controversial Approach: Respect Your Husband

Cincinnati, Ohio-With 50 percent of all marriages ending in divorce, more and more couples are focusing their attentions on finding ways to ensure that their marriages don’t become just another statistic. As a result, increasing numbers of couples are turning to counseling, therapy and seminars, seeking the answer to a happy and healthy marriage.

One Cincinnati expert says an approach that is working, healing and strengthening many marriages across the Tri-State, is also one that some professionals might argue is archaic, passé’ and even male chauvinistic.

“In our society today, the notion that wives should respect their husbands is viewed as ‘old-school’ and not ‘progressive’,” says Nina Roesner, Executive Director of Greater Impact Ministries. “The reality is, however, much like government and industry need leaders such as Presidents and CEOs, so does the societal group of marriage and family, and because our course is biblically-based, we believe the leader is the husband,” added Roesner. Roesner believes evidence of this social structure exists in that if one simply looks at the successful societal structures in existance today, we see multiple instances where organizations have only one primary leader. Roesner is quick to mention that, “These leaders also have multiple advisors and listen most intently to those whom they deeply respect. Think also about where we see chaos ensuing – that’s typically occuring when two people are vying for total control.”

But Roesner is careful to point out to that doesn’t mean husbands have the right to abuse their wives in any way. “Just the converse, we teach women how important strength, self-esteem and dignity are to a successful marriage, and how wives can play an instrumental role in helping their husbands lead with humility and love. These are the core, foundational principles taught in the course.” This is also the foundation of the new book recently released by Ms. Roesner, The Respect Dare. “The key to really understanding this can simply be found through the experience of one of our class members. She said, ‘I grew up in the feminist movement, and for the last 27 years of my marriage, I’ve been fighting for control and respect. When I gave respect to my husband, it totally changed my marriage…now I have the intimacy I’ve always longed for.”

Roesner argues that modern ideals of marriage have actually undermined the institution, leading to even more divorces nationwide. “The problem is everywhere we look, we’re bombarded with images and messages telling us that marriage is all about self and self-fulfillment, and as such, if your needs aren’t being met, it’s time to move on. Seldom do you hear the Biblical instruction that reads, ‘And the wife must respect her husband.’ Even women who do hear that still struggle with how to implement it in their own marriages.” Roesner says she got the idea for her book through the successful application of respect by wives in the Daughters of Sarah