ISBN: 0-8254-2693-6
PRICE: $10.99 US; 15.99 CA
PUBLISHER: Kregel Publications
FULL TITLE: Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight: Help for women who want to feel more "in the mood".
AUTHOR: Sheila Wray Gregoire
PAGES: 174

He says, "you’re never in the mood." She says, "There’s no romance; what do you expect?" It’s a conflict as old as time. We’re told "opposites attract" and we’ve seen it in action, but given time and circumstance, what once lured you in, can quickly lure you out.

When it comes to marriage and the issue of sex, there are two opinions and mind-sets and all too often neither give much ground. It’s an emotionally challenging, physically driven dilemma that brings with it frustration, hurt feelings, anger, and even disrespect.

"Women wonder why men were created with the switch always turned on, and men wonder why women were created with so many different switches and no instruction manual," writes Sheila Wray Gregoire. As a marriage advocate, Gregoire wants to help bridge the gap that so many couples experience today and show them that the distinguishing factor between marriage and other relationships is sex – and it’s the relational components of the marriage partnership that make it so special, just as God planned. In her ground-breaking, tell it like it is book, Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight: Help for Women Who Want to Feel More "In the Mood" (Kregel Publications, 2004), Gregoire provides an up-close, personal and at times humorous look at what "we" (men and women) do, don’t do, and sometimes should do to fan the passion, ignite the fire and enjoy the warmth of true love.

Romance. Intimacy. Sex. They are not the same thing, although they definitely go together and complete the "big picture." For women romance is all about relationship and the closeness factor. Once that is established the physical aspect follows, but it’s not a woman’s primary need. For men, it’s all about the physical; the urgency their bodies feel. Men equate sex as their currency to feeling loved, while women need the emotional aspect to feel loved – two very different needs and therein lays the problem.

"If we’re going to have a fulfilling marriage and a satisfying sex life," writes Gregoire, "we have to embrace mutuality; we have to become one." And how do we do that? By appreciating one another, changing our attitudes, committing fully to doing whatever it takes to make our marriages work, forgiving each other for hurts and striving to fulfill the others’ needs rather than staying focused only on ours. True intimacy manifests when we reach to meet each other’s needs. "Marriage works best when we discover the joys of giving," states Gregoire.

So, how do partners get on the same page? The answer, according to Gregoire, is getting in touch with God and delving into His Word. The Bible has much to say about intimacy as it relates to marriage – it provides the blueprint for which we should all build upon. Blending personal stories with practical tips and biblical wisdom, Gregoire offers concrete concepts and solutions for creating true intimacy. Couples will discover:

• How change in the sexual relationship requires change elsewhere.
• Why sex for women is often a "head thing."
• How television is the biggest enemy to intimacy.
• Why forgiveness and letting go of the need to be right is so important.
• How self-image issues and past hurts can throw intimacy into a tailspin.
• The repercussions of everyday energy zappers.
• The threats to Godly sexuality.
• The roadblocks of respect.
• The cultural attacks on gender.

Although written from a woman’s perspective, Honey, I Don’t Have a Headache Tonight presents a well-rounded look at the personalities and characteristics that make-up a marriage. Within the pages, men and women will discover uncanny resemblances as they get a clearer picture of why their significant other reacts the way they do. In the end, couples will see why a little help, patience and understanding, go a long way to promoting harmony and good feelings. Change begins with you. Accept your differences, make your spouse the number one priority, and watch what happens.

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