There are two words that make anyone cringe. Water damage. Whether it is an overflowing toilet, or a backed up sink, or a flooded basement, leaks are bad business. Recently a friend mentioned the incident in his own house that involved both the handyman skills of himself and his son, as well as a house call from the plumber.
"I replaced the faucet, and while I was at it the other one too," the serviceman explained while packing up his tools. "It was about to blow." I doubt the homeowner minded the added expense.
One of the troubling things about leaks is that you may not notice for awhile. Our apartment had one that went unchecked for a month before it came to our attention. The utility bill raised my eyebrows, and John went hunting for the reason. A ten dollar fix from the hardware store was all it took.
The motivation behind marriage mentors, and these daily messages, and small groups is to attend to leaks while they are still manageable. A feeling of disconnect can be remedied with a few hours sitting side by side in the company of people who are rooting for you. A brewing miscommunication can be unclogged by the supportive guidance of an older couple. Rumbling angst can be reframed by listening to the experience of someone else.
When those small grievances hide behind a wall for months, or years, the explosion can leave everyone ankle deep in tears.
