Driven by the belief that “without a vision, the people perish,” Keion and Shaunie Henderson are on a mission to thrive in their marriage. Soon after getting married, Keion –the self-appointed “technocrat”– sat with Shaunie, notebook in hand, to lay out a detailed vision for their union. Despite being a self-professed “winger,” Shaunie recalls how refreshing it was to unite around their purpose, and define the kind of relationship they wanted. A marriage mission may sound like rigid rules, but it’s actually a roadmap to a strong and lasting relationship. As Keion asks, “If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever know when you get there?” In this episode, the couple describes 3 relationship frameworks –A-frame, H-frame, and M-frame – and explain why they are committed to building an M-frame relationship.

The Hendersons say they nurture their marriage mission by practicing “10-Minute Wednesdays,” a communication exercise that helps them hash out misunderstandings and actively listen to and learn from one another. Listen and learn why the Hendersons’ marriage isn’t 50/50, why Shaunie believes “submission isn’t a bad word,” and why a marriage mission is ever-evolving. Commiting to the vision of a marriage requires much growth on the inside, but Keion reminds us, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

For further growth, read more about Davidson’s relationship frames.