The holidays are a time for giving, gratitude and connection. We wrap presents, decorate our homes and try to make memories that last. But before you check off your shopping list this year, consider giving a gift that lasts far beyond the holidays—the gift of a stronger marriage.
In their powerful new book, Marriage That Doesn’t Suck, Larry and Susan Pons offer couples hope, humor and hard-earned wisdom from more than 40 years of helping marriages heal. Their message is simple but profound: even relationships that feel stuck, distant or broken can be restored with God’s help and a willingness to do the work.
Now Is the Perfect Season to Invest in Your Marriage
The holidays can bring out both the best and the worst in relationships. Between family gatherings, financial pressures and high expectations, emotions often run high. But this season also offers an opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect.
Here’s why now is the perfect time to strengthen your marriage:
- Stress levels rise — The holidays can magnify tension. Healing old wounds and learning to communicate well can protect your peace and joy.
- You have time together — Time off work and slower rhythms create space for real conversations and renewed intimacy.
- You’ll shape your family legacy — Investing in a strong marriage blesses not only you, but also your children and future generations.
- It’s a meaningful gift — A healed relationship is a gift that keeps giving long after the wrapping paper is gone.
What You’ll Learn from Marriage That Doesn’t Suck
Larry and Susan Pons are not promising a “perfect marriage.” They’re offering a real marriage—one that grows through grace, honesty and healing. In Marriage That Doesn’t Suck and its companion workbook, you’ll discover practical tools to build connection and lasting change, including:
- How to stop fighting the wrong enemy
- How to communicate without shutting down or blowing up
- What real forgiveness looks like in everyday life
- Steps to rebuild emotional and spiritual intimacy
- How to bring grace and truth into conflict resolution
- Guided exercises and reflections for couples to complete together
This isn’t just another self-help book. It’s a roadmap for couples who want a Christ-centered marriage that thrives.
Creative Ways to “Gift” a Healthy Marriage This Christmas
- Give the book + workbook as a set. Pair them with cozy extras—a candle, journal or favorite coffee mug.
- Plan a “Marriage Date Night Challenge.” Commit to one date night for each chapter of the book, focusing on reconnection and conversation.
- Share the gift with another couple. Know someone newly married, struggling, or in need of encouragement? Give Marriage That Doesn’t Suck as a gift of hope.
- Host a couples group or book study. Invite friends or church members to go through the book together this winter. Healing grows in community.
- Make it part of your own marriage renewal. Wrap it under the tree for your spouse with a handwritten note: “I believe in us.”
A strong, healthy marriage doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through small choices of love, forgiveness and faith. Whether you’re newlyweds or decades in, there’s always room for growth and grace.
This holiday season, give a gift that lasts: a healed, hope-filled marriage that doesn’t suck.
