Marriage Course - August 20, 2012

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

Marriage

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?

From Series: "Marriage"

Study Guide

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If a relationship is to thrive and keep growing, we must have regular time together.

At the very least, plan to spend 1-2 hours alone together each week; to rekindle romance, to have fun, to talk together about your feelings (e.g., your hopes, fears, worries, excitements.)

We call this marriage time.

Marriage time should have all the connotations of a “date” together.

The benefits of marriage time

  • keeps the fun and romance alive in our relationship
  • deepens our understanding and appreciation of each other
  • ensures we communicate regularly on a meaningful level

Plan time together

It doesn’t happen automatically. Find the best time for you and book it in, just like you would any other social or business appointment.

Write it on your calendars e.g.; Monday evening, umarriage time” or Wednesday lunchtime, marriage time.”

If you are very busy, plan marriage time several months in advance.

Complete the Worksheet Below: