Many marriages fall apart because couples don’t want to get real about their baggage, negative history, and other
obstacles that may be standing in the way of building a healthy marriage. Sadly, after saying I do, lots of husbands
and wives gloss over their individual issues, which act as barriers to the two of them coming together in any
meaningful, genuine way.
But not Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Tamara George, co-authors of Married for Real: Building a Loving, Powerful Life
Together (Abingdon Press). These two, who have spent 13 years as a couple and 7 years as husband and wife, have
unlocked their own formula for building a strong relationship. It is rooted in the tried and true—though not new—
idea of getting real.
The two will be the first to admit that they aren’t perfect, personally or collectively. But they have given their lives
to Christ and are working every day to surrender themselves and their relationship to God.
Of the book, Eddie and Tamara say, “Are we relationship experts? No. Do we have degrees in psychology or
counseling? No again. But we believe we have something worth saying. We each bring a lifetime of relationship
experience to this book, and we have thirteen years of togetherness that have taught us what it takes to make a
relationship work. Could we have benefited from a book like this? Absolutely! That’s one of the big reasons we want
to do it.”
For those who may be struggling silently inside a rocky relationship, Married for Real will help them see there is
another couple in the world, namely Eddie and Tamara, who can relate to them.
Of course, to look at their seemingly charmed lives, one might assume they are anything but an ordinary, everyday
couple.
Eddie George’s glowing NFL career included four Pro Bowl appearances, first-team All-Pro selection in 2000, two
Super Bowl touchdowns, and more than 10,000 yards rushing. In addition, Eddie won the Heisman Trophy while at
Ohio State University and has been inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame. He holds a Master of Business
Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Tamara George, also known as “Taj,” is a singer, actress, and author. Best known as one-third of the singing group
SWV, she co-wrote a number of SWV songs, including “Right Here,” “It's About Time,” and the Top 5 hit “You're
the One.” Her television work includes a stint on the show “Survivor,” and she holds a BA in Marketing from
Belmont University.
But strip away the accolades, achievements, and exciting life adventures, and you have two down-to-earth people
fighting daily to overcome unfortunate past situations that threatened to scar and mar them for life.
Eddie saw his parents go through a divorce at an early age and he, like millions of other children, thought the split
was somehow his fault. “My idea of family was shattered at the age of five when my mom and dad were divorced,”
writes Eddie, who didn’t at all understand what was happening. “All I knew is that a spike had been driven through
the family, and I still carried the thought that I had caused it.”
That “spike” of which he speaks, changed the structure of his family forever. He and his sister lived with their
grandmother. Their mother worked as a flight attendant and was gone most of the time, and Eddie’s father lived just
around the corner, but was emotionally unavailable. “My father’s distance had a big effect on me,” wrote Eddie,
“and eroded my confidence and self-esteem and chipped away at my very identity.”
As he lugged around that heavy baggage, Tamara had some pretty weighty issues she was carrying as well.
“I grew up in a turbulent household with a period of molestation from a cousin. My stepfather who came into my
life when I was three years old, had serious problems and brought trouble to my family,” Tamara recalls.
Her biological father died when she was 9 and her mother passed away at 14, which was terribly difficult for a young
person, or any person for that matter, to go through. “My three brothers and I were then split up,” shares Tamara.
“I was sent to live with a cousin who was not nurturing at all. In fact, I pretty much lived the Cinderella story –the
first part, before the fairy godmother.”
Clearly, life was tough for both Eddie and Tamara and those difficulties created emotional and psychological
struggles within them both.
Consequently, Eddie was emotionally distant at times and Tamara was emotionally needy, which could have turned
out to be a terrible combination.
So what made the difference?
The two began seeking God through study of the scripture, prayer, and worship. Once they gave their hearts to
Jesus Christ fully, they grew by leaps and bounds in their faith and Christ's grace. Today, that growth continues.
“For us, living in faith means getting to the core of our life purpose through God,” say Eddie and Tamara. “It begins
with prayer and Bible study, but it extends into every aspect of our lives.”
These days, even with all the hustle and bustle of life, the George’s are striving to keep God at the center of
everything. Through ups and downs; setbacks and bounce-backs; trials and triumphs; mistakes and right choices;
He is always there to help them.
And now, their book, Married for Real, is here to help you.
To purchase your copy, click here.
obstacles that may be standing in the way of building a healthy marriage. Sadly, after saying I do, lots of husbands
and wives gloss over their individual issues, which act as barriers to the two of them coming together in any
meaningful, genuine way.
But not Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Tamara George, co-authors of Married for Real: Building a Loving, Powerful Life
Together (Abingdon Press). These two, who have spent 13 years as a couple and 7 years as husband and wife, have
unlocked their own formula for building a strong relationship. It is rooted in the tried and true—though not new—
idea of getting real.
The two will be the first to admit that they aren’t perfect, personally or collectively. But they have given their lives
to Christ and are working every day to surrender themselves and their relationship to God.
Of the book, Eddie and Tamara say, “Are we relationship experts? No. Do we have degrees in psychology or
counseling? No again. But we believe we have something worth saying. We each bring a lifetime of relationship
experience to this book, and we have thirteen years of togetherness that have taught us what it takes to make a
relationship work. Could we have benefited from a book like this? Absolutely! That’s one of the big reasons we want
to do it.”
For those who may be struggling silently inside a rocky relationship, Married for Real will help them see there is
another couple in the world, namely Eddie and Tamara, who can relate to them.
Of course, to look at their seemingly charmed lives, one might assume they are anything but an ordinary, everyday
couple.
Eddie George’s glowing NFL career included four Pro Bowl appearances, first-team All-Pro selection in 2000, two
Super Bowl touchdowns, and more than 10,000 yards rushing. In addition, Eddie won the Heisman Trophy while at
Ohio State University and has been inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame. He holds a Master of Business
Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Tamara George, also known as “Taj,” is a singer, actress, and author. Best known as one-third of the singing group
SWV, she co-wrote a number of SWV songs, including “Right Here,” “It's About Time,” and the Top 5 hit “You're
the One.” Her television work includes a stint on the show “Survivor,” and she holds a BA in Marketing from
Belmont University.
But strip away the accolades, achievements, and exciting life adventures, and you have two down-to-earth people
fighting daily to overcome unfortunate past situations that threatened to scar and mar them for life.
Eddie saw his parents go through a divorce at an early age and he, like millions of other children, thought the split
was somehow his fault. “My idea of family was shattered at the age of five when my mom and dad were divorced,”
writes Eddie, who didn’t at all understand what was happening. “All I knew is that a spike had been driven through
the family, and I still carried the thought that I had caused it.”
That “spike” of which he speaks, changed the structure of his family forever. He and his sister lived with their
grandmother. Their mother worked as a flight attendant and was gone most of the time, and Eddie’s father lived just
around the corner, but was emotionally unavailable. “My father’s distance had a big effect on me,” wrote Eddie,
“and eroded my confidence and self-esteem and chipped away at my very identity.”
As he lugged around that heavy baggage, Tamara had some pretty weighty issues she was carrying as well.
“I grew up in a turbulent household with a period of molestation from a cousin. My stepfather who came into my
life when I was three years old, had serious problems and brought trouble to my family,” Tamara recalls.
Her biological father died when she was 9 and her mother passed away at 14, which was terribly difficult for a young
person, or any person for that matter, to go through. “My three brothers and I were then split up,” shares Tamara.
“I was sent to live with a cousin who was not nurturing at all. In fact, I pretty much lived the Cinderella story –the
first part, before the fairy godmother.”
Clearly, life was tough for both Eddie and Tamara and those difficulties created emotional and psychological
struggles within them both.
Consequently, Eddie was emotionally distant at times and Tamara was emotionally needy, which could have turned
out to be a terrible combination.
So what made the difference?
The two began seeking God through study of the scripture, prayer, and worship. Once they gave their hearts to
Jesus Christ fully, they grew by leaps and bounds in their faith and Christ's grace. Today, that growth continues.
“For us, living in faith means getting to the core of our life purpose through God,” say Eddie and Tamara. “It begins
with prayer and Bible study, but it extends into every aspect of our lives.”
These days, even with all the hustle and bustle of life, the George’s are striving to keep God at the center of
everything. Through ups and downs; setbacks and bounce-backs; trials and triumphs; mistakes and right choices;
He is always there to help them.
And now, their book, Married for Real, is here to help you.
To purchase your copy, click here.
| Empowering Everyday Women Online Magazine |
| February 2012 |
By Angela Blackwell
| Copyright © 2011-2014 EEW Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. |
EEW Magazine is the premier site for African American Christian news, viewpoints, and information. Visit BUZZ.EEWMagazine.com daily to get informed
and get the latest coverage of black news and black entertainment from a Christian perspective.
and get the latest coverage of black news and black entertainment from a Christian perspective.
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