Last week, I started a new series for my blog.? I thought I would talk for a few posts on marriage and relationships.? If you are married, are in a dating relationship or one day hope to be married, I hope these relationship tips help you.
Tip #1 to having a successful marriage is Seek Jesus More Than the Opposite Sex. For more information on this tip, read this blog post.? Tip #2 to a successful marriage is Learn 3 Words??I Am Sorry?. ?To read about this tip, go here.
Tip #3 to a Successful Marriage: Learn From Others
I have met so many couples over the years who have learned this principle well.? Whether it is going to counseling, reading books, attending seminars or growing in a small group, there are many couples who understand this tip and practice it well.
However, there are also many, especially young couples, who seem to have a tough time with this principle.? I am not sure if it is because they are young and therefore pride takes over, or if it is because they have not seen this principle modeled for them, but there are many who choose not to engage others in a growth and learning process.
I remember a season of our marriage when I didn?t choose to learn from others.? It wasn?t because I thought I knew everything or because I didn?t care what others had to say, I was just so focused on ministry, that I had allowed the busyness of life to consume my?responsibility to grow our marriage.
It all came to a point one day when Sara and I were driving back from the ATL..that?s Atlanta, Georgia for those who don?t know.? I could tell she was upset so I asked her what was wrong.? She eventually told me that she noticed every time we went to a bookstore, I would immediately head to the leadership or ministry sections, buying books on anything that would help me grow.? This is not a bad thing, but the point she ended up making was that I never went to the marriage or relationship sections and, ultimately, that told her that I cared more about ministry than my own marriage.
She had a point and I needed to change.? I needed to start practicing this 3rd principle?learn from others.? Since that time, I (we) have read numerous books on marriage and relationships, we are in a marriage huddle, we seek advice from married mentors of ours and we seek to learn all that we can from those who have gone before us.
If you want to have a successful marriage, learn from others.? Don?t make the mistakes if you don?t have to.? Learn from where others have fallen and succeeded.? Learn from others and watch your own relationship flourish.
Tips for Learning From Others:
Read, Read, Read: (recommended: Love and Respect; 5 Love Languages; Creating an Intimate Marriage; His Needs, Her Needs)
Join a small group of others in relationships or marriages
Don?t shy away from counseling?we all need it from time to time.
Find married mentors that you want to be like.
Posted on September 23rd 2011 in Random ThoughtsSource: http://www.ernestsmith.net/?p=69
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