Marriage Course - August 20, 2012

Day 4 - The Third and Fourth Seasons of Marriage - Autumn and Winter

Autumn
• season of richness and maturity-reaping
• the benefits of what has gone before
• marriage more established having weathered tough times
• may be teenagers in the house
• emotionally the most exhausting stage of parenting
• the greatest need is to support and encourage each other

Winter
• empty-nest stage for many
• probably fewer demands with an opportunity for more time together
• can be the most exciting stage of marriage
• the greatest needs are shared interests and good communication

Question:Reflect on what you've heard so far. If you are in one of these seasons, talk together about the pressures you've worked through until now in your relationship, and the pressures you're currently facing. If you’re not here yet, what do you think it will be like?

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Why is some conflict inevitable in every marriage?

  • we are different-different backgrounds, priorities, desires, personalities, opinions
  • no good trying to force our partner to do things our way
  • must see ourselves as being on the same side (3-legged race)
  • we are naturally self-centered
  • need to ask ourselves, “Are there ways I need to change for the sake of our partnership?”

Does the inevitability of conflict in marriage surprise you?  Why?  How does it challenge or affirm your approach to conflict?