Good, clean, healthy advice for couples or singles

Around 202 A.D., Tertullian, an early church writer, penned a letter to his wife about Christian marriage. Notice the equality and oneness that he brings out in this beautiful letter.

“How beautiful the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They are, in truth, two in one flesh. Where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit.

“They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side, they visit God’s church and partake of God’s banquet; side by side, they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another. They never shun each other’s company; they never bring sorrow to each other’s hearts.

“Unembarrassed, they visit the sick and help the needy. They give alms without anxiety; they attend the sacrifice without difficulty; they perform their daily exercises of piety without hindrance. They need not be embarrassed about making the Sign of the Cross, nor fearful in greeting the brethren, nor silent about asking a blessing of God.

“Psalms and hymns they sing to one another, striving to see which one of them will chant more beautifully the praises of their Lord. Hearing and seeing this, Christ rejoices. To such as these he gives his peace. Where there are two together, there also he is present, and where he is, there evil is not.”

The following 30 suggestions are good, clean advice for people married or single.

1. Pray.

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say “No” to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life with less “stuff.”

7. Talk less; listen more.

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your means.

13. Have backups: an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. Watch what you say. This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the kid in you every day.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19.Take your work seriously, but not yourself.

20. Don’t push your own agenda.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Talk to God on the spot. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to pray.

24. Make friends with godly people.

25. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good ‘Thank you, Jesus.’

26. Laugh often!

27. Develop a forgiving attitude.

28. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

29. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

30. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful that day and thank God for that blessing.