• In retrospect, what is something that your parents
were wise in doing raising you?
• What is one of your favorite memories that includes snow?
• What do you remember about learning to drive?
• Describe the home of one or both sets of your grandparents.
• What are two things that happened today, and how did you
feel about them?
• Marriage Relationships are Dynamic
• There is Always Something New about Your Spouse
• Invest in the Future
• You got Married Because You Dated!
• Marriage can be Compared to a Set of Tires
• Dating is an Opportunity to Focus
• Remember the Good Times!
• Create Your Future
• Laughter is the Best Medicine
• Remind Your Spouse, “I Love You!”
• Some people want to avoid the difficult feelings that
could arise in a confrontation
• Some people take comfort in their difficulties. By
complaining to others about the problem, they get sympathy
• Not resolving the difficulty is a way of punishing
the other person
• Discord and disharmony may be preferable to no
relationship at all
• Refusing to reconcile is a way to keep the relationship
on it’s own terms and remain in control
• For some people, negative feelings are so familiar that
they hold on to anger and shame just to feel alive
• Some people feel that they deserve to suffer and be unhappy
• Not reconciling allows some people to feel superior. The
person wronged gets to feel righteous while the
perpetrator is seen as the villain
• Some people are too proud to reconcile. Reconciling
might require them to admit that they have also
contributed to the difficulty
• Some people see no hope in reconciling
I know a couple that came very close to divorcing. He had an affair, and his wife had a hard time trusting him, especially if he was late for dinner or late coming home after work. Once when he was late, she accused him of seeing “her” again. He started to defend himself and speak harsh words to her about “this never ending mistrust.” But instead, he thought for a few seconds before opening his mouth and realized just how forgiving and loving she was to have stayed in the marriage. Then when he opened his mouth, he spoke words of kindness and love by saying, “Thank you for your commitment to me and forgiveness. By questioning me now and then, it only proves to me how much you love me and I am so grateful to you!”
When he started to react, he caught himself remembering what a great wife she was. That’s James 1:19 in action.
What a blessing to be able to respond to any situation with positive, uplifting words. This is truly a mark of maturity.
Will you take responsibility for your words when you find yourself in a potentially explosive conflict?
How do you think others will respond to your positive response?
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. —James 1:19
A first grade teacher collected well-known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. Their insight may surprise you.
As you shall make your bed so shall you … Mess it up
Better to be safe than … Punch a 5th grader
Strike while the … Bug is close
It’s always darkest before … Daylight Savings Time
Never underestimate the power of … Termites
You can lead a horse to water but … how?
Don’t bite the hand that … looks dirty
No news is .. impossible
A miss is as good as a … Mr.
You can’t teach an old dog new … math
If you lie down with dogs, you’ll … stink in the morning
Love all, trust … me
The pen is mightier than the … pigs
An idle mind is … The best way to relax
Where there’s smoke there’s … pollution
Happy the bride who … gets all the presents
A penny saved is … not much
Two’s company, three’s … the Musketeers
Don’t put off till tomorrow what … you put on to go to bed
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and … you have to blow your nose
None are so blind as … Helen Keller
Children should be seen and not … spanked or grounded
If at first you don’t succeed … get new batteries
You get out of something what you … see pictured on the box
When the blind leadeth the blind … get out of the way
The husband who was told by the marriage counselor to try and be more considerate of his wife. One day he comes home from work. He’s dressed up in a suit, he has cologne on, and he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of candy in his hands. He rings the doorbell and he’s standing there as she opens the door he holds out the flowers and the box of candy.
The wife opens the door takes one look at he standing there and starts crying. In between her sobs she says, “Oh, I can’t believe it! Little Johnny has been throwing up; … the dishwasher just broke; … your parents are coming to visit this weekend and … to top it all off, you come home drunk!
…
As a Christian, you bear the wonderful name of your Creator.
But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: Do not be afraid, for
I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah
43:1
God created Israel and made it special to him. He redeemed it and
called it by his name. He protected it in times of trouble. We are important
to God, and he calls us by his name! When we bear his wonderful name,
we must never do anything that would bring shame to it.
“One of the roots of mental illness is invariably an interlocking system of lies that we have been told and lies we tell ourselves”. Scott Peck, “The Road Less Traveled”
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