Three Simple Ingredients To Save A Marriage It doesn't matter how long a couple has been together, problems can surface that make life at home difficult.
 From minor issues such as arguing about who should do certain chores, to more serious ones involving alcohol abuse, spousal abuse, or infidelity issues, solutions do exist.
You can save a marriage without having to go through marriage counseling by practicing three basic things found in all healthy relationships.
Just as a medical doctor treats a patient, the first step to save a marriage is to properly diagnose the problem.
In most cases the symptoms we see on the surface is just a sign of a deeper missing element.
Couples might find themselves fighting about a variety of things when the real issue is a growing lack of intimacy in the relationship.
Intimacy is a very fragile thing, and when it has been damaged it leads to all kinds of other problems.
However, it can be restored and become even stronger than before by focusing on the three basic ingredients to a healthy relationship.
The First Two - Patience and Kindness Sounds too simple doesn't it? But they are the two magical qualities that can begin to restore a relationship and save a marriage.
 If you examine any loving household in the world today, you will find these two building blocks are the cornerstone of its foundation.
 They are a very powerful combination.
Together they create a little thing we refer to as *love.
* See Corinthians 13: 4-8 When things begin to go awry in a marriage, the problem usually can be traced to one or both of the partners not practicing these things on a daily basis.
 In order to save a marriage, someone is going to have to take the first step.
This may be difficult if you are in the habit of reacting to your partner's behavior in a set way.
You must be able to detach from it and begin to practice patience and kindness regardless of what the other is doing.
The best thing about practicing patience and kindness is that you will find yourself feeling happier throughout your day.
Furthermore, there is a mysterious by-product that comes from your happiness -- your partner will notice it and find you much more attractive.
(Smiles tend to do that to most people).
You may find that he or she will like the new you, and will want to do more things to please you.
Add A Dash Of Forgiveness...
The third element to save a marriage may be the most important of all.
 As mentioned, couples must begin to practice the two elements of love, but what can they do about the damage already occurred? It's a little thing called forgiveness.
 Forgiveness is the catalyst that brings it all together.
  If either of the couple cannot learn to forgive past hurts, it will act as a cancer to the marriage and will block the much-needed healing.
If you haven't practiced forgiveness much it may feel a little weak to you, but it is like a muscle - the more you use it the stronger it (and you) become.
Doctor's Orders: So in order to save a marriage, couples must begin applying the two simple qualities of love, and follow it up with healthy dose of forgiveness.
 Trust cannot exist when any of these are missing, and real intimacy requires the deepest trust.
 If one partner lacks patience, kindness or forgiveness -- signs of it will surface in the form of other bad behaviors, and the trusting relationship quickly deteriorates.
Practice these simple things daily - for they are the life-blood of a healthy loving relationship.