How One Tool Strengthened Our Marriage

Dr. David and Theresa Mabry (center) with their children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

By Theresa Mabry
Encompass Director of Operations

David and I had been married for 13 years when we took our first relationship assessment. He was getting ready to begin work at the Marriage Resource Center—what you now know as Encompass Connection Center—and we were invited to help teach relationship classes to couples.

I remember thinking, “Well, they’ve asked the right people! We've been married long enough to teach this stuff with our eyes closed.”
 
Boy, was I wrong. ​

​We weren’t in crisis, and we wouldn’t have described ourselves as “unhealthy,” but the assessment brought some things to the surface—challenges we hadn’t fully acknowledged, patterns that had quietly developed over time. It also introduced us to tools and skills that opened our eyes to how much more we could grow—especially in the areas of communication and conflict resolution. 

Even after 17 years from our first date, we realized there was still a lot to learn. These new insights didn’t just strengthen our marriage—they laid a healthier foundation for raising our three kids. 

What a gift those tools were! They didn’t fix everything overnight, but they gave us direction, language, and perspective that helped us become more intentional in how we showed up for each other. 

I came from a loving, stable home. My parents weren’t perfect, but they modeled kindness, respect, and commitment. I saw them work through life together, and that gave me a vision of what a healthy relationship could look like. 

David’s upbringing was very different. His childhood was marked by instability and a lack of nurturing. But from the beginning of our relationship, he made a conscious decision: he would not let his past dictate his future. When I met him in college, I saw someone shaped by hardship but not hardened by it—someone who was determined to build something different. Together, we committed to forging a new kind of legacy. 

Now, 32 years into our marriage, we’ve been blessed with three incredible adult children, two amazing daughters-in-law, and two delightful grandchildren. And that first assessment? It wasn’t just a moment of clarity—it was the beginning of our calling. We went from learners to leaders to vision-carriers. 

Encompass Connection Center played a big role in that transformation. It gave us the tools and inspiration we needed—not just for our marriage, but to support others in theirs. Today, we get to walk alongside couples as they find healing, rediscover hope, and begin rewriting their stories. 

Now, maybe your story doesn’t involve full-time marriage ministry. That’s okay—it’s not supposed to. But we all have the opportunity to grow. To heal. To invest in the relationships that matter most. 

You can change the direction of your marriage. 
  You can begin a new chapter in your family story. 
  You can become the kind of example your children and grandchildren remember with         gratitude. 

At Encompass, we believe that behind every healthy relationship is a real story—one of struggle, strength, and transformation. Whether you’re just starting out or decades in, you don’t have to walk this road alone. Take our relationship assessment. Explore our programs. Take the next step. 

Your story is not finished. In fact, this might be your turning point. 

You can be the one who changes your family tree. 
 Be the encouragement. Be the champion. 
 Be the story someone else needs to hear.