Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Good Day!
This past Monday, Doug & Michele finished up “Personality Differences” during our first hour of discussion.
Two Personality Type Resources mentioned – visit their respective websites for additional information:
The Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/), and
The Enneagram Institute (http://www.enneagraminstitute.com).
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. – Luke 9:10-11
Tony & Linda introduced “Childhood Issues and Emotional Baggage” during our 2nd Hour last week, which emphasizes the importance of understanding both Our Spouse’s AND Our Own “History” – and the Emotional Baggage & Unfinished Business we carry with us. These factors can impact even the best of marriages, and we will wrap up this important discussion during our First Hour this coming Monday.
Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. – Proverbs 14:29
Your Homework for this week includes: (Notes and a copy of the Worksheet for Topic 8 “Childhood Issues…” are attached.)
- “Read & Follow” Exercise 9 from “Getting The Love You Want,” by Harville Hendrix (See #1 below: This is the “Suggested Exercise” from the Topic 8 Worksheet!).
- See the attached copy of Exercise 9(Reromanticizing Your Marriage.pdf) from Hendrix’ book.
- Take some time to write down YOUR VISION of the “ideal” Relationship(remembering that this IS an “Ideal” – and hence not fully attainable in this life…).
- Compare YOUR VISION from the above exercise with that of your Spouse:
- What areas do you agree on?
- Where do your Visions Disagree?
- What type of Compromises – or, even better, Win-Win – can you imagine / work toward?
- For #2 above, think in terms of the Unfinished Business, Emotional Baggage, AND, Especially, the NEEDS covered in our discussion of “Childhood Issues and Emotional Baggage.”
- And, of course, don’t forget the Questions To Ponder from the Topic 8 Worksheet, which ask you to look at both your own, and your spouse’s, Emotional Baggage and Unfinished Business, and “Ponder” what steps you might take to help each other.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. – John 9:1-7
This coming Monday:
First Hour: Tony & Linda will wrap up “Childhood Issues and Emotional Baggage.” Remember that this is the Group Feedback / Participation portion of the discussion!
Hint: See Homework notes above….
Second Hour: We will begin the topic of “Handling Anger Constructively” (!) – which is intended to help us identify our own styles for dealing with anger, AND provide some skills to handle anger More Constructively.
Go with God –
Reid & Marilyn, on behalf of the Marriage Builders Team
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. – Ephesians 4:26-27
Worksheet #8
Topic #8 – Childhood Notes
Reromanticizing Your Marriage