While directing my parents’ Love and Respect Conferences for 2 years, I often heard people say, “I wish I would have known then what I know NOW.” They would then ask, “Why did no one teach us this 20 years ago?” I thought, “We need to get this information to my generation (Gen x and Millennium) so they won’t say, ‘I wish I would have known then what I know now.'” Thus, I call my site, Love and Respect NOW.
So… I do research on 18-35 year olds: primarily single, newly married or sadly enough, newly divorced. My website is a place to talk about the things I am observing. Also, I have a section called “Ask Joy” which allows people to submit anonymous questions.
You will notice some silly stuff on my site. Sometimes amidst the heaviness that comes with broken relationships or desiring marriage when it just isn’t happening, we need to have a little fun. That’s where my silly blog posts or games come into play.
First and foremost, my heart is to serve. I have always enjoyed male and female communication but my own brokenness and desire for Christ is what really pushes me to help my generation. Hopefully this video will give insight on how I got here…
Oh, and if you don’t know who I work for…you should check them out. My parents are pretty swell.
Love and Respect (Now) is a division of Love and Respect. Please be considerate.
From My Heart
All of the Love and Respect Now Posts…In One Place!
Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs on Marriage, Parenting, Family of Origin, Work & Death
Fighting for Love (and Other Potentially Hazardous Cliches)
Walter is half dog, half boy. He likes sunsets, long walks and attacking me every time he sees me. He is a puppy in his head, a bear in body. He belongs to my friends Matt and Lindsay and you can play with him all you want if you trek it on up to Portland!!
Hey Joy,
I really enjoy your blog! Thanks for sharing your story. I think it’s great that you are reaching out to our generation. I actually received your parents book as a wedding gift a few years ago…. and I love it. I stumbled upon your blog via their website and I passed the info along to some friends. Thanks again for your insightful, cheerful, inspiring messages God bless.
Warmest Regards,
Jillian
Jillian – Thanks so much for your kind words! So happy you enjoyed my parents book. I hope it gets in the hands of many young couples (and singles) so they can start to understand these principles now! Blessings on your marriage! Thanks for stopping by~
Joy-Thank you so much for your courage and willingness to share your story. I share your passion for reaching out to this generation to help them understand some key lessons prior to getting married. I broke off my engagement the Monday before my wedding and was completely heart broken. It’s been a year since that happened and God has shown himself to me in so many new ways. This is definitely a very different path than I ever imagined my life going…but I’m grateful that God protected me from getting into a destructive marriage. I wish you all the best and praying that God will continue to use you to impact this generation!
Becca – Wow, thank you for sharing what happened to you. My heart empathizes deeply. I appreciate your encouragement to keep on. Thank you so much for your words and for trusting God’s goodness in the midst of deep pain and hard decisions. Praying you have a strong community around you!
Ok so cool – I can totally see you getting more comfortable sharing your story. Good job friend!!!!
girl you are gonna make (and are already making) such an impact in this world 🙂
Walter needs a friend though… ever thought of a pug?
I love your parents book, I actually got it after my husband and I had gotten married when we were going through some struggles. God brought us through it and helped us learn so much a long the way. Now we are in a Love and Respect Bible Study group at church and its awesome rereading the book and watching the conference with other couples and hearing what they have to say. Its awesome that you are trying to reach more young people with their message, if I had read their book things would be a lot easier lol. Hugs and prayers to you and you continue your ministry and find your path. I know in my life I had to hit rock bottom (literally God was all I had) to realize that He is all I need. He lifted my life out of a terrible spot, and got me out of an unhealthy relationship and made me do a lot of work on myself and my faith, and then when I least expected it, He brought my husband into my life at just the right time. God bless you and I will be praying for your ministry.
Ashley – What a cool story! Thank you so much for sharing. Keep letting people know about the journey you have been on because I know He can use it to give them hope. Thank you for encouraging me!
Joy-I visited your dad’s website this afternoon out of desperation. I’ve been researching christian councilors in my hometown for a while now but can’t force myself to call them.
My husband and I read your Dad’s book just four months ago before our wedding during pre-marital counseling. It was all so simple then. Now, I’m confused and angry that it isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. I’m in a very dark place…so dark that I can’t even force myself to serve others like your Dad suggested. I know looking inward is unhealthy and God calls us to not worry and focus on our troubles but to give them to him, but I’m too angry and confused. Why did my marriage get so rocky just a few months into it? Why do I feel so alone? Surely the first thing friends and family would say is that I married the wrong man. And I’m even beginning to question that. What should I think if I’m facing these dark times now? What will I face and feel like after 10, 20 years of marriage? This comment isn’t as encouraging as some of the other ones…but just felt led to reach out and see who’s out there sharing this.
Carolyn – Thanks for sharing your heart. Marriage can be tough and there are definitely seasons that are harder than others. It does not mean that you have married the wrong person. My father and I just addressed this last week: https://www.loveandrespectnow.com/?p=2259
The world will tell you that you married the wrong person, but I would like to encourage you to realize that your spouse is different than you…so at times there will be conflict. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 that there will be trouble in marriage. Divorcing and marrying someone else will just bring different issues.
Ask yourself if you believe if God is good and can redeem this situation? Are you being beaten and need to remove yourself? Is their unfaithfulness?
You said you are “angry” that it’s not as easy as you thought it would be. This is our westernized mentality that life should be easy. If you want to leave your husband so that life is easier, than that is up to you and God…but there are instructions and tools in scripture that can help you to work at your marriage and realize that ultimately this life is about you and the Lord.
Please don’t take my words as lack of empathy. I truly want everyone to have wonderful blissful marriages. I believe there CAN and WILL be seasons of bliss for you in THIS marriage. But will it be easy?
No.
You and I both know that a reward is most satisfying when it was worked for.
If you have further questions, feel free to email me at LoveandRespectNOW@gmail.com But before you do that–CALL YOUR CHURCH TO FIND A GOOD COUNSELOR. You both should not be doing marriage alone. You need to involve wise people who can hear from both you AND your husband.
Blessings and strength to you Carolyn. Thanks again for sharing!
elizabeth thinks...
who is Walter and how can I meet him? ADORABLE!
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