7 Marriage Lessons Learned on the Dance Floor

1. The Woman Can’t Lead

“I certainly needed to be paying close attention and know the steps for myself; I could not be a passive, uninvolved partner. But, I did need to wait for the gentle pressure that Phil would exert on my hand or shoulder, sending me off in the right direction….In the same way, I cannot lead in our marriage.”

2. Don’t Tell Your Partner What to Do

“Our instructor had to correct me for this several times as I was regularly “reminding” Phil of his steps. Problem was, I didn’t really know Phil’s steps. I had an idea of what was required of him, but I truly had no clue….I need to trust that he is seeking God for his calling, which frees me up to focus on mine.”

3. Add Creative Flair at the Right Time

“I came to discover that my favorite part of dancing was the extra shoulder shimmy I was free to slip in when I was headed in the right direction.”

4. Stepping on Toes Is Painful

“We must humble ourselves enough to ask forgiveness for the toe smashing—no matter how painful or whether it was intentional”

5. Don’t Compare Yourselves to the Couple Dancing Next to You

“God has called us to our particular rhythm, tempo and moves for our marriage; we don’t get to dance to someone else’s song!”

6. Remember the Basics

“Sharon, our instructor, always reminded us that if we got lost in the dance sequence, we could always come back to Step 1 and get re-synced….When we re-orient ourselves on the basics, we find our way again.”