Hedges By Jerry B. Jenkins Have you ever noticed the nicely landscaped yards when driving through high-end neighborhoods? And the hedges…they are evenly chiseled or perfectly rounded. Question: How does that happen? Answer: With lots and lots of work and attention. I believe in preventive medicine, and when it comes to building in protection for your marriage, Jerry Jenkins’ Hedges is at the top of the preventive medicine list. Jenkins uses the word picture of hedges to perfectly describe the work and attention needed for marriages to survive and thrive. He debunks the thought that once the couple says “I do” the protective hedge is automatically in place. The need for hedges is clearly articulated early in the book as Jenkins talks of tangled webs, the changing climate of relationships, and the dynamics of flirtation. As well, he talks of the power of self-deception and does all this with the basis for the book firmly grounded in Scripture. Jenkins does a great job talking about the foundations of planting, watering, and pruning hedges as they are built around our marriages. He speaks of intentionality. He talks about things like “two’s company, three’s security.” Then there is the careful admonition regarding touch, compliments, humor, and quality/quantity time. He wraps up this absolutely solid book with a description of what hedges can do for your family. He notes, “Telling your story, speaking openly of the hedges in your marriage, protecting yourself and your family from insidious new sources of unacceptable media, and truly practicing the Golden Rule at home will give your spouse and your children a deep sense of love and security.” If you are married or thinking about marriage, this is a must-read book. Allow every thought embodied in Jenkins’ words to become part of your DNA. You will find it nice at the end of the journey to hear your spouse, children, and grandchildren say, “Well-done! Nice hedges.”