at forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past wou

You know how in some marriages couples hurt each other with their heated words? This type of communication can burn up a marriage. Read on to learn how to extinguish the fire before your relationship is consumed.

Camping in the forest

One of my favorite vacations was camping in the mountains outside of Santa Fe. It was beautiful! We woke to the melodic sounds of a rushing stream, the call of birds and crisp mountain air.

However, one night a cold front moved in. Since we are from Texas, we did not think we needed coats in May. My wife and I divided the tasks in order to get warm quickly. I started the Coleman stove, while she started the camp fire. She was having trouble getting the fire going that morning. So I decided to add stove fuel to start it faster, and it did!

"Only you can prevent forest fires" - SMOKEY BEAR

I did not know that hot coals were all ready burning. Before my wife had a chance to stop me, I poured the fuel on the fire. As it hit the embers, the fuel caught on fire and burned up into the can I was holding. Realizing I had a bomb in my hands, I automatically threw the container before it could explode. When it hit the ground, liquid fire poured onto the forest floor covered with pine needles. They quickly ignited and started spreading out of control.

All I could do is stand in amazement that I was destroying a national forest. Smokey Bear would not be pleased.

Thinking fast, my wife ran to the car. She grabbed the fire extinguisher. Then she raced back and put out the blazing pine needles. My wife had just saved me from the wrath of Smokey Bear. Thank God for a good wife.

Fiery words

There is a passage in the Bible that compares our tongue, which refers to our words, to a spark that can set a great forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past woun

r, one night a cold front moved in. Since we are from Texas, we did not think we needed coats in May. My wife and I divided the tasks in order to get warm quickly. I started the Coleman stove, while she started the camp fire. She was having trouble getting the fire going that morning. So I decided to add stove fuel to start it faster, and it did!

"Only you can prevent forest fires" - SMOKEY BEAR

I did not know that hot coals were all ready burning. Before my wife had a chance to stop me, I poured the fuel on the fire. As it hit the embers, the fuel caught on fire and burned up into the can I was holding. Realizing I had a bomb in my hands, I automatically threw the container before it could explode. When it hit the ground, liquid fire poured onto the forest floor covered with pine needles. They quickly ignited and started spreading out of control.

All I could do is stand in amazement that I was destroying a national forest. Smokey Bear would not be pleased.

Thinking fast, my wife ran to the car. She grabbed the fire extinguisher. Then she raced back and put out the blazing pine needles. My wife had just saved me from the wrath of Smokey Bear. Thank God for a good wife.

Fiery words

There is a passage in the Bible that compares our tongue, which refers to our words, to a spark that can set a great forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past wou

l ready burning. Before my wife had a chance to stop me, I poured the fuel on the fire. As it hit the embers, the fuel caught on fire and burned up into the can I was holding. Realizing I had a bomb in my hands, I automatically threw the container before it could explode. When it hit the ground, liquid fire poured onto the forest floor covered with pine needles. They quickly ignited and started spreading out of control.

All I could do is stand in amazement that I was destroying a national forest. Smokey Bear would not be pleased.

Thinking fast, my wife ran to the car. She grabbed the fire extinguisher. Then she raced back and put out the blazing pine needles. My wife had just saved me from the wrath of Smokey Bear. Thank God for a good wife.

Fiery words

There is a passage in the Bible that compares our tongue, which refers to our words, to a spark that can set a great forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past wou

in amazement that I was destroying a national forest. Smokey Bear would not be pleased.

Thinking fast, my wife ran to the car. She grabbed the fire extinguisher. Then she raced back and put out the blazing pine needles. My wife had just saved me from the wrath of Smokey Bear. Thank God for a good wife.

Fiery words

There is a passage in the Bible that compares our tongue, which refers to our words, to a spark that can set a great forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past wou

at forest on fire (James 3:6). Our angry, hurtful words can spread damage as quickly as lighted fuel on pine needles. If we are not quick to forgive, the words can flame out of control and cause devastation to our relationship.

Couples burn each other with words

Most marriages start peacefully. The relationship is invigorating like crisp mountain air. It seams perfect. However, problems eventually arise. These troubles and past wounds become coals of resentment waiting for fuel to ignite them.

Jim and Sara's Story

This was true for Jim and Sara. When they disagreed, they started name-calling. These words led to deep wounds. Eventually, the disagreements escalated to yelling. Jim yelled at Sara about spending too much money shopping. Sara, feeling attacked, yelled about the money Jim spent hunting and golfing. Neither person heard what the other was saying. Their words were burning a path to divorce.

Extinguishing the fire

However, there are ways to extinguish the fire. First avoid adding fuel to the fire by eliminating painful words. Jim and Sara changed the words they were using. They focused on the issues and stopped attacking each other.

Second, they began affirming each other’s strengths. This rekindled positive emotions.

New Growth

Third, they chose to forgive each other for the cutting words. Even though damage had been done to their relationship, forgiveness cleared a way for new growth. Fourth, Jim and Sara reconnected when they stopped treating each other as the enemy. A forest does not recover immediately and neither does a relationship. However like the forest, a relationship can flourish again

A wise old bear

Remember, like Smokey Bear says, “only you can prevent forest fires.