Two As One Forever: A Better You, A Better Marriage is a compilation of marriage tips and advice from a Christian perspective. With words of wisdom, certified marriage coach Beverly V. Thomas offers expert marriage advice that is sensible, practical, biblical, and easy to understand.
It is interesting to see how author Beverly V. Thomas‘s counseling experience merges with biblical advice and God’s design for marriage. Throughout the book, she breaks down what several Bible verses mean and explains how they apply to marital relationships. Even though she tries to keep it brief, there is a lot of depth to her writing.
She writes about the different kinds of love—eros, philia, and agape—that were used in the original Greek language of the New Testament, explaining their differences and how they apply to marital and other relationships. She highlights the importance of things like releasing anger and learning to forgive, including the facts about the negative physical and mental side effects that come with holding onto bitterness. Even though this is a Christian-based marriage book, anyone can read it. There is plenty of non-faith based advice that is applicable to many.
Beverly V. Thomas writes concisely—she cuts straight to the heart of each topic. She uses a lot of bulleted lists, pictures, and pertinent facts to drive her points home. She has also thoughtfully includes a lengthy glossary of words that readers can use to help them express their feelings, such as “ridiculed,” “playful,” “embarrassed,” and so on. A glossary like this might seem like a simple thing, but there are many people who struggle to find the right words to say how they are feeling, so reading through these words could be useful to them. Although couples could certainly go through this book together, it should not be confused with a couple’s marriage workbook; Beverly V. Thomas has written it with one reader in mind.
The book would be a little bit more impactful if Beverly V. Thomas had added more of her own story and experiences from her own marriage. There are only a handful of personal-related inputs, so the credibility comes from the back cover rather than from the book’s contents.
All in all, Two As One Forever: A Better You, A Better Marriage really is a very helpful and practical resource that any married person or individual considering marriage is sure to glean some wisdom from.