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How a Marriage Dies

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How does a marriage die?  Let's start from the beginning:

  • You meet. Most couples don't go further if they never meet. (You knew that.)

  • You are attracted to one another and start to spend time together.

  • You like this person, and it's mutual.  Joy.  Thrill.  Sparks.  Heat.

  • You become a bit anxious about whether or not this person will stay in your life.  You start to make commitments to one another because commitment reduces anxiety about staying attached.

  • You get married.

  • Problems happen.  The just do, and they will happen to you.  For some couples, they are easy problems, for others, they are very difficult and even gut-wrenching-- such as having a seriously ill baby.

Couples whose marriage are in danger will show early signs of poorly managed conflict:

  • You have difficulty managing conflicts and problems as they come your way in life.  You don't work as a team on problems.  Conflicts become more frequent and more intense.  The number of times you are together that become painful seems to go steadily up.  You don't communicate well together, and you start to get nastier about it all.  Danger ahead.

Most couples experience periods of conflict and/or neglect of the positive side of their relationship, even if the marriage is following a healthier path.

  • Life gets busier.  You have a home to take care of, probably kids that need time and attention; your work begins eating up more time, and money pressures mount.

  • You begin to neglect the parts of life that bonded you together.  You have fun less often.  You go out infrequently.  You don't just sit down together or take walks to talk as friends much anymore, and when you do, it often turns into an argument.

  • This is the big turning point.  One or both partners begin to associate the presence of the other with pain and stress rather than with support or pleasure.  Friendship together becomes a distant memory.  Danger is not just on the horizon, the bridge is out.

  • The future becomes something to threaten in arguments:  "Why should I stay with you?" "Maybe we need to get a divorce."

  • Now you experience the total erosion of dedication to one another and investment in the relationship. You're forgetting why you went on this journey in the first place.

  • In the absence of forces that constrain some couples to stay together, you divorce. If you have a lot of constraint commitment and you do not redevelop dedication and satisfaction, you stay married and miserable.

Clearly, we're hoping to help couples stay off this very common path.  It leads to a destination that no couple seeks when the partners start out together, but many end there just the same.  You don't have to be on this path.  We invite our All Pro Dad subscribers to share how they resurrected their marriages.  Please give us your comments below:

Comments

1.

Todd (Aug 24th 2009, 06:33 AM)

 

I am very much in pain as well as I've recently found out that my very Christian wife has had a 4 month full blown affair with one of my good friends. Totally unbelieveable and surreal to me. Our marriage and life was always good and she agreed, it just got busy raising 3 very active boys. We rarely had conflicts as my wife hates any sort of conflict. In the past year our marriage had improved as our oldest boy became babysitting age and my wife and I got out on weekly dates, etc. We communicated daily by text, email and/or phone when I was or wasn't travelling. We wrote love notes several times each week and she says she often bragged about me to her friends who expressed certain frustrations about their husbands. We saw "Fireproof" at our church as her affair was about 10 days old and was starting with sexual type emails. I thought in hindsight that this would have been a wake up call to her. I did not see us in the movie at all as I loved my wife, served her and told her of my affection daily and felt much of the same back. Her affair is a Totally bizarre experience. I'm up again here at 3 am because I can't sleep....nightly occurence as I'm haunted with the pain and questions of why?. We are going thru very intensive counselling, reading books and working past issues. One book that I've read that you many think doesn't apply, likely does. "Women's Infidelity" Living in Limbo - what women really me and when they say they're not happy" by Michelle Langley. It is a non-christian book that I take somethings in it that I take lightly, but a good main stream societal cultural book that helps explain what women go thru in their 30's and 40's. I think every couple with a wife in this age bracket should read it now, even if things are good, there's no infidelity, etc....it helps one to be aware of the dangers. I wish I had! I can only tell you that I continue to struggle in our marriage and hope one day that it will be very different, but I continue to think about separation. I know now that working our marriage is the right think to do and what God desires. Our daily prayers, devotions, talks, etc are slowly helping. I love who my wife is today, but I struggle with who she was in those 4 months and the sick spiral that she got pulled into living the "thrill of the secretive relationship". It haunts me daily and makes my life a living hell. My wife is currently working thru a no. of her issues including being sexually molested as a child (Door of Hope - great book) and relationship addiction. It is not easy, but by God's Grace and Love, I am re-committed to our marriage even though it is something I swore I could never do in these circumstances....it is a slow and painful journey that I hope one day will be very worthwhile. I would appreciate any prayers that are available out there as it is a HUGE struggle with an incredible amount of inner turmoil for me.

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2.

Todd (Aug 24th 2009, 05:59 AM)

 

Inpain, I am very much in pain as well as I've recently found out that my very Christian wife has had a 4 month full blown affair with one of my good friends. Totally unbelieveable and surreal to me. Our marriage and life was always good and she agreed, just busy raising 3 very active boys. We communicated daily by text, email and phone when I was or wasn't travelling. We wrote love notes several times each week and she says she bragged about me to her friends.....i was devasted to find out she had been sleeping with someone else also very close to us. Totally surreal experience. I'm up again here at 3 am because I can't sleep....nightly occurence. We are going thru counselling, reading books and working past issues. One book that I've read that you many think doesn't apply, likely does. "Women's Infidelity" Living in Limbo - what women really meand when they say they're not happy" by Michelle Langley. It is a non-christian book that I take somethings in it that I take lightly, but a good main stream societal cultural book that helps explain what women go thru in their 30's and 40's. I think every couple with a wife in this age bracket should read it now, even if things are good, there's no infidelity, etc....it helps one to be aware of the dangers. I wish I had! It explains exactly what your wife's behavior is at Stage One. I can only tell you that I continue to struggle in our marriage and hope one day that it will be very different, but our daily prayers, devotions, talks, etc are slowly helping. I love who my wife is today, but I struggle with who she was in those 4 months and the sick spiral that she got pulled into living the "thrill of the secretive relationship". It haunts me daily and makes my life a living hell. My wife is currently working thru a no. of her issues including being sexually molested as a child and relationship addiction. It is not easy, but by God's Grace and Love, I am re-committed to our marriage even though it is something I swore I could never do in these circumstances....it is a slow and painful journey that I hope one day will be very worthwhile....

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3.

Jeff (Aug 13th 2009, 10:10 AM)

 

After 20 years of marriage, my wife wanted out. So for various reasons and after having struggled with depression for 6 years she ran off and took a bottle of pills. She attempted suicide. Gratefully she was not able to complete the task and was checked into the emergency room, and then a psychiatric ward. My impulse was that she was abandoning the family and the marriage. Several pastors told me that I had a biblical case for divorce as she was attempting to abandon the family and the marriage. So I filed for divorce. As the process went forward. I began to feel the conviction of the Spirit of God in thinking that I was sure the my wife was a beleiver and I could not treat her like an unbeliever. The passage that kept coming to my mind was Jesus saying that "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder." I was sure that we married in the will of God and he had blessed our marriage with four wonderful children who were devastated and confused over the whole thing. I then was approached by my 15 year old son. He sat down and opened his bible and very gently with a look of confusion in his eyes asked me to show him again the biblical passages that I was using to justify a biblical divorce. I looked at my son and honestly told him that I could not show him, although I knew that in my flesh I could argue before the best judge and against the best lawyers that I had a good case. I could not argue before my son with a good conscience and I could not argue before God. So I asked my wife to go to lunch with me, (we had been living still in the same house but we were not eating together). I told her that I did not see any profit for her or me or the kids in going forward and that if she still wanted to have a marriage, I would be willing withdraw the divorce papers from the court. Which I did. Was it easy? Absolutely not. As far as I knew (I found out later as I worked thruogh the issues)...I had had my own little funeral. The night of her suicide, I went to bed (didn't sleep at all) convinced that my wife was dead or would be by morning. We did not know where she was, or how many pills or what kind she had taken or if she could be found in time to help her. So I subconsiously had gone through the grieving process as if she had died. In the five months of the divorce process that we went through, this only solidified the idea that my wife had died. But later, I had to continually remind myself that God is a God of resurrection, and even though in my heart and my mind, my wife had died, I had to come to the place where I was ready to let God resurrect her and our marriage. He is still a God of miracles. This was over five years ago, we have just celebrated our 25 year of marriage. Am I trying to tell you that this was easy? No way. It was probably the hardest path we could have taken. The divorce, (outside of transferring all of our wealth to lawyers) would have been the easier way. But the easy way is not always the best way. As I have told some friends who have considered divorce, as I counsel them to try again, stick it out, don't give up. I tell them that over time it may not get easier...but it gets better. My wife and I are living testimonies to God's grace, mercy, healing, and resurrection power applied to anything and everything. Do not believe the lie that divorce is the answer, and do not beleive the pie in the sky denial that marriage is easy, neither are true, but one way is designed and ordained by God for blessing and the other way only leads to heartache and hurt. Listen to God, and his voice in these matters, sometimes he only whispers, and we need to be actively listening in order to hear. Even a Christian can be convinced of an unbiblical path for his life and marriage, but if we stop long enough to allow God's voice to speak over the pain and the hurt, we will be the better for it.

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4.

mrt (Aug 13th 2009, 01:03 AM)

 

You can work through unfaithfulness, but it is a hard road to take. I read countless books on how to forgive...the best resource I found was the bible. We must grant forgiveness or God will not forgive us. Also it helps immensely if you can condemn the wrongs, but not the person. We all make mistakes. If you still feel any love at all, don't quit yet. If you walk away, you must be able to do so with zero emotions left, even anger or it will haunt you forever. By the way, I have experienced this first hand. My marriage was saved, and we are the happiest we have been in many years. With real fogiveness, you can start over, release the past. Don't let it rob you of another day. Grace is of no use to a person that deserves it...but it is invaluable to a person who knows they do not. It is life changing. Don't give up too soon. And you still have a right to nurse and explore your wounds even with forgiveness, but it the nature of love. It can be done. What do you have to lose?

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5.

Jeremy (Aug 12th 2009, 09:56 PM)

 

My suggestion would be to take things one day at a time. If there is an ounce of love in your heart towards your spouse left it is worth fighting for. Remember you can't do it alone. You need your spouse's commitment, your commitment and especially the strength of the Lord to get you through the next day. God Bless.

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6.

Matt (Aug 12th 2009, 10:01 AM)

 

anorexia and depression are often relationally rooted. Often times if someone feels more secure and happy with their partner the symptoms of depression (ect) will start to disapate. A great movie to watch in a struggling marriage is "fireproof"

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7.

Phil Leslie (Aug 12th 2009, 06:21 AM)

 

After a dozen years together, we had some issues develop until a couple who we consider mentors to us introduced us to a great book called, "LOVE AND RESPECT". What a breath of fresh air! I've not heard or read anything like it. I recommend it for both husband AND wife to read & work through. http://www.loveandrespect.com

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8.

chris (Aug 12th 2009, 06:14 AM)

 

But how do you stay in a marriage with a woman who suffers from depression and anorxia? And one that looks at you as a major sourse of the problem while getting limited help. Not desperate, just a question.

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9.

Tommy Vasquez (Aug 12th 2009, 03:49 AM)

 

Well i can say this. My wife and I watched a movie called fireproof with Kirk Camron. that was the start and then we bought the book they talked about. Then here comes the hard part. I made a commitment to follow the book to completion.....god bless and good luck.....oh and lots of prayer.

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10.

Pat (Aug 11th 2009, 10:29 PM)

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on mending a marriage after unfaithfulness. My spouse and I are both Christians and I can't even fathom being able to work through this.

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11.

Eric K. (Aug 11th 2009, 05:48 PM)

 

My wife and I started on divergent paths a couple of years ago. I owned a busy medical practice, and my wife did the billing to ease the burden on me. It became a nightly exercise in "staying late" to get work done. When we weren't working, we were at our computers on opposite sides of the room to "veg out." Online video games became a source of escape, but it also became temptation. I perceived my wife to be more interested in the lives of others she was meeting online, and I in turn did the same. I found myself tempted to "escape" with someone I met online, where I would be free of all my troubles and stressors, including the "burden" of my family and job. My marriage turned when my wife had the bravery to ask, "Are you running off with X?" In my shock at her candor, I felt I should be honest. I told her I had thought about it. Sitting at our dinner table that night, I asked her, "Well, what do you want to do?" She looked me in the eyes and said, "I don't want to give up." After eleven years of marriage, that was when our marriage really began. Mistaken perceptions were magnified by lack of communication. After many heart to heart talks in the following weeks, I learned that we were each doing things that the other hated, and our only reason for doing so was because we thought that was what the other wanted. I've seen comments from those here debating the importance of faith in these stories. I think it's important to remember that the real issue is being on the same page with your spouse. If that involves faith, then it's very much important. At the core of everything is clear communication of wants and desires -- when those issues become clouded, so does the relationship.

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12.

Sean O (Aug 11th 2009, 03:15 PM)

 

That was a good bit of useful advice. Glad to see someone understands how to still do that without just telling us to trust in God.

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13.

J. Michael (Aug 11th 2009, 02:28 PM)

 

About 18 months ago, my marriage nearly ended. There was a lot of animosity and distrust in our relationship due to mistakes both of us had made. We were not sure if we could ever be happy again. Our solution was marital counseling. A professional counselor will discuss with you what you both love about each other; what you want to change about each other; the pressures you put on your spouse and yourself and then address how to try to reconnect based on your specific circumstances. It was long and painful, but in our situation it worked and we're back on the right path. It's not 100% guaranteed. Very little is, but I'm glad I did it. If you find yourself in that situation, you owe it to yourself, your spouse and your kids to try. Being a man is about doing the right thing. Do the right thing to save your marriage. Even if it doesn't work, you'll come out understanding why and will get you on the right path to recovery and contentment.

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14.

Steve (Aug 11th 2009, 01:37 PM)

 

While this site does have a Christian tilt other perspectives may be valid. For a woman's point of view check out this article. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/fashion/02love.html?_r=1&em

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15.

Andy (Aug 11th 2009, 01:08 PM)

 

TFY - you seem to be curious about why Christians believe and think the way they do, but you also seem to be determined to judge and mock them. Pick one - do you want to learn something about Christian thought, or do you just want to criticize? Think about this - Christian folks here have been patiently trying to help you understand what they're saying, apparently with your welfare in mind, dispite your attitude. Is your marriage in trouble? Do you need help?

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16.

Sean O (Aug 11th 2009, 12:54 PM)

 

Mostly awful comments again. Yeah and glory to God. He is great but that's not the answer (although exactly what I expected to see on this site). Spend time together doing things you both enjoy. Spend time together doing things she really enjoys even if you don't. Spend time together doing things he really enjoys even if she doesn't. Don't forget to kiss and touch. Tell each other how you feel (both when you are mad and happy). Help out around the house. Don't expect anything and be grateful for everything. Money (or more specifically lack of) makes things tough. Having lots of money isn't the answer. I think the main point is you need to give in order to get.

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17.

John (Aug 11th 2009, 12:53 PM)

 

To InPain: both parties have to walk in humility before reconciliation can be found. until she lays down the Offenses that she has chosen to carry....my encouragement to you is that if you have walked through the love dare with humility and done what you can, pray. Only God can truly change her heart now. This is probably the most difficult step of all simply because we have no control over it at all. You might have to separate and you might have to go through a painful divorce, but only God can change the heart. it might take years, months, weeks or simply days and lord forbid, never, but you keep yourself pure, your motives honest and walk in humility and God will honor it, your kids and family will see it and appreciate you for it in the end.

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18.

Mike S. (Aug 11th 2009, 12:39 PM)

 

My advice is to get to the Dave Ramsey class as soon as possible. Look up on Dave's website and find a class in your area. It will give you the financial skills and change your life. Then you can work on the other stuff.

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19.

Chris Mueller (Aug 11th 2009, 12:37 PM)

 

In Pain: Your situation is familiar to mine. Getting yelled at, nagged, silent treatment. I have to pray to Jesus that I say the right things, do the right things every day. It is tough when the feedback is negative. It is tempting and I have yelled back, but it just gets worse when I do that. I have to remain humble and remember my 3 daughters need us together to prevent a broken home. "Hang in there", I tell myself and I pray alot. I met an older guy (60's) I worked with, who left his wife because he thought he was 'tired of her', but years later he regretted his decision and was miserable.

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20.

Andrea (Mar 05th 2009, 06:15 PM)

 

My husband (Craig) wrote this from experience. We had been on the verge of divorce a few times. I didn't think we were meant to be. I felt like there was someone better for me out there. That's what the enemy wants us to think! I was right about something better and that was Jesus. Through Christ I discoverd our spouses may not seem like our soulmates but the Lord puts people together for his own reasons not ours. Once you realize that it gives you a much better and positive perspective on things enabling you to be able to work through any obstacle that may come your way. For this the Lord will truly bless your marraige and the enemy will be defeated!!! I could never have imagined we would be where we are today. Totally in love and happy as can be!!! So don't give up, plant yourself in a good church, pray, and win the battle.

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21.

Brian and Bobbi (Mar 05th 2009, 10:58 AM)

 

Another great resource for building or rebuilding marriages is the Weekend to Remember Conferences. They are held all over the United States and run from Friday evening through Sunday morning. My wife and I attended our first conference five years ago and began to do volunteer work for the ministry soon after. One of our jobs is to pray over the written prayer requests that come in during the conference. It has been an incredible and exhilarating experience to pray over cards left from people on Friday night who are ready to give up (some cards come from people who have all ready split up and are in the middle of divorce proceedings) and then watch the progress of these same people when their final comments on Sunday are that they are recommitting to making their marriages work because they now understand how a marriage works and what they must do to make it the joyous occasion that they imagined when they first walked the aisle. They even have a program for "pre-marrieds" that I sent my daughter and her fiance to two years ago. They came away from the experience saying that they learned more God's intention for marriage than they ever dreamed. They were married on 7/7/07 and are still on their honeymoon to this day. For more information on a Weekend to Remember Conference, go to http://familylife.com and click on one of their marriage icons along the top of the page. I encourage one and all to check it out,

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22.

Alex Akpodiete (Mar 05th 2009, 01:47 AM)

 

My wife and I first decided to stay together because no one else can better raise our biys. Then we realised that we should make it work for us also and then attended the Fireproof 6 weeks couples.marriage class. It was fantastic and we are closer and happier today than we were before. Our faith as Christians and commitment is what got us through. I don't know how people make their marriage work without God.

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23.

o1 (Mar 04th 2009, 01:58 PM)

 

nice words guys, but need something more tangible than words of faith. true , they help you get through stuff, but love cant pay the rent. we need conflict management skilss asap! Going to church with your loved ones will make you feel good, but financial management instruction, marriage counseling, etc is where the changes will occur that have the greatest impact.

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24.

unkown (Mar 04th 2009, 07:34 AM)

 

@TFY- There are lots of people who lead normal lives who are not followers of Christ. I can't say that anyone who doesn't follow Him doesn't know happiness or what it's like to have a good marriage. But I do not believe that they will ever know marriage to fullness of what it was created to be. I have several friends who do not believe in God who have times when they are happy, but they will never know what true Joy is, because that can only come through Christ. As for your naivete comments, you seem to favor this word, as if our beliefs are not provable and we have seen nothing of change. Naivete is when someone says God will make me prosper. Well if you look at the life of His followers you will see this isn't always the case, in fact there is alot of suffering as well. There has been change in my life, so for me to say that through Christ things can happen, it's not some naive saying but on the contrary it is something that is founded on witnessing complete change and transformation in my own life, as well as lives of others. I am also a firm believer of the fact that not everyone will turn to Christ, just as He tells us in His Word. So we could preach to you until we are blue in the face, and it would do no good. You have heard the truths that we speak and from the sounds of it you have heard of the Saving Grace given to us through Christ. You have made the choice to deny it at that's right. But don't call CHristians naive because we chose to accept it and have since witnessed complete and utter transformation. Ryan

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25.

NKT (Mar 04th 2009, 06:49 AM)

 

To AWeed (17): No one is without a flaw, it is how we view them and react towards them that makes a whole lot of difference. Focusing on the other person's flaws can only make them seem bigger, and trying to get the person to admit their flaws usually results in eve more resentment. There is definitely something positive about your wife (why else did you marry her?) which you can focus on and help her grow that aspect of her life. Eventually, the positive things will outgrow the negatives. You can learn to see your wife through your heart, and only use the magnifying glass to see the positives.

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26.

Tom (Mar 04th 2009, 12:08 AM)

 

Love dare I saw in a Christian movie called, "Fireproof" about a couple who's marriage was in trouble and they were headed for divorce, but eventually, one of the partners tried a 40 day program of servitude, based on biblical principles which ultimately led to a softening of heart in his spouse, and eventual strengthening of their marriage. It was pretty gut-wrenching at times, but plausible. What impressed me was, that I do not think that American society is programmed to embark on the rebuilding of a marriage in this way because it requires total submission to something much greater than ourselves, a deep humility of spirit, and a philosophy that marriage can be extremely difficult. Persistence, diligence, patience, and ultimately submission to God, I think is what saved this couple's marriage. Definitely worth seeing.

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27.

Think For Yourself (Mar 03rd 2009, 05:10 PM)

 

@Geoff - "If God is not present in your marriage, it will fail because you are missing a vital link to the sacred bond between the man and the woman." This is just more naivete. I know several highly educated, intelligent people for whom I have the utmost of respect that do not believe in Christianity (atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.) and have successful long-term marriages. @unknown - "...it's because I want to, not have to. I want to because it brings God Glory." I agree with the first part, but the second sentence reduces the impact which I realize is exactly the opposite of what you intended. @All - I'm knew to this site. Is it a religious/Christian based site? I've enjoyed the articles, but am curious about the organization's affiliations because of the comments.

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28.

patriotmom64@verizon.net (Mar 03rd 2009, 04:12 PM)

 

And DYING TO SELF. Which is what we're all here for anyway, right? Marriage is a great playing field for learning to love as an act of our will. It's easy to love when things are warm and fuzzy. But loving your spouse when you're mad at them -- that takes an act of laying down your own will-- a commitment to God creates a willingness to die to Self. Not fun, but yields a harvest later.

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29.

Geoff Hall (Mar 03rd 2009, 04:06 PM)

 

To: Think for yourself, I agree to a point. God can move mountains, but you must carry the shovel. He is the source of strength that you can draw from when you are working on communication, acceptance and just plain hard work to keep your marriage intact. When you get married and state the sacred holy vows, it is not just between you and your spouse. It is between you, your spouse and God. Thus the reason that the majority of weddings take place in a place of worship and performed by a minister of some type of religion. If God is not present in your marriage, it will fail because you are missing a vital link to the sacred bond between the man and the woman.

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30.

unknown (Mar 03rd 2009, 03:56 PM)

 

TFY-I know what you are getting at, but at the same time I don't think the people below explained it well enough. A true follower of Christ "Picks up his Cross" and starts walking with Jesus. Everything doesn't just go "poof" and disappear or get better. Instead you begin to realize the strength at which the Holy Spirit gives you to war against the things that hold you down. It still has nothing to do with you but it is the power of God in you, but it is still work. Hence the reason Paul says "Work out your salvation." I love Jesus Christ and I follow Him daily, not just on Sundays, But I still have to work at my marriage. But it's because I want to, not have to. I want to because it brings God Glory. Let me know what you think.

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31.

Think For Yourself (Mar 03rd 2009, 03:42 PM)

 

So if I put all of my faith in God and Christianity, everything will 'just work out?' Wow, what a perfect example of naivete. A marriage isn't resurrected solely by a committment to God or embracing Christianity, it's through hard work, dedication and committment to each other, expanding your communication skills and a willingness to accept some things are outside of your control/influenc.

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32.

Steve (Mar 03rd 2009, 03:14 PM)

 

AWeed you are to be commended for trying the Love Dare to save your marriage. While it is great, the only challenge with it is that it does require your spouse to respond to your changed behavior without necessarily discussing things that need to be discussed. I would seek out a Family Dynamics Institute class which uses some of the same principles outlined in "Fireproof" and "Love Dare" but involve both the husband and wife working together to change and grow. http://www.familydynamics.net/ That Dynamic Marriage class is based on the books "His Needs, Her Needs" and "Love Busters" and really help troubled marriages. Good luck and God bless.

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33.

unknown (Mar 03rd 2009, 03:11 PM)

 

Make the decision as to what you want to do. Do you want to stay with her or leave her. If you want to stay, then you continue to serve her in a selfless manner, meaning, you serve her not to point out her flaws but because she deserves it. And once you reach the point of servitude that says "you are doing these things because she deserves it, even though she has done nothing to deserve it," If you choose to stay and serve it shouldn't matter how she responds. It will be tough, and believe me I know it will be, but it is something you will have to stand by. If you make the decision to leave, then all the serving you do is in vain and was doomed from the start.

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34.

Eurico Carter (Mar 03rd 2009, 02:18 PM)

 

Jesus Christ is the answere to all things possible. Before, my wife and I tried to fix our own problems and we would always end up right back where we started from, arguing. When we decide to let GOD take control of our lives we started to notice that we did not fight about money, sex, time or anything for that matter, and that is without us even putting any effort into it. Now my faith in GOD is so high and wish that everyone can witness this wonderful blessing, all you have to do is keep faith. Don't get me wrong we still rough days but not BAD days.

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35.

Scott (Mar 03rd 2009, 02:15 PM)

 

Love Dare was written by the Kendrick brothers, who made the movies Fireproof and Facing Your Giants...it was the book that Kirk Cameron's father gave him to do each day (kind of a devotional) coupled with a selfless act towards your loved one daily...you can get the book at any book store, and its a 40 day journey...

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36.

Geoff Hall (Mar 03rd 2009, 02:04 PM)

 

what is Love dare?

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37.

Scott (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:52 PM)

 

Geoff Hall is right on the money...it is all about FAITH. I was a selfish, childish excuse for a man until God opened my eyes to the blessings I had--a wife and 2 beautiful children. I began doing my own version of "Love Dare" before I knew it existed, and I am now on day 1,157 and am getting stronger everyday. If you watch the movie Fireproof, what many people fail to see is what really happened...his victory was not winning his wife back, it was coming to Christ and changing who he was at his core...the rest happened as a result. Continue to work on yourself, walk by faith and not by sight, and others will begin to follow.

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38.

Geoff Hall (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:49 PM)

 

To: inpain, Is your wife a christian? If so, I promise that if you can work God into both your life and your wife's life miracles will start to happen. Attitudes will change, peace will happen. You both will stop thinking that this is all about me. You all will start thinking it is all about your spouse. Take care of her. Love her. Accept her faults and realize your faults as well. We are all not perfect. But if you look at your spouse as a child of God, you will not leave. God knows your pain. As you all live for God, determine not to trust in your own strength or abilities. It is ONLY through his Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. "Not by might, nor by power, but my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6 Depend on God to fix your marriage. He does not want you to leave your wife (just review your vows).

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39.

dave (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:44 PM)

 

In my marriage counseling, I was told that going into marriage, is going into a life of servanthood. the other folks leaving a response are right on. We are to model our life after Jesus. I know it is hard, but I am so glad Jesus never gave up on his mission to serve. God knows we did not deserve it. It's always hard to do the right thing, but I am confident the rewards are worth it if you do. God Bless,

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40.

In Pain (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:35 PM)

 

While I appreciate the attempts to help AWeed find solace and strength in his spiritual life, I don't think y'all are being helpful. Platitudes just don't help. I struggled thru The Love Dare. All my actions and words just made her angrier and more hurtful, especially in front of the kids and others. I am now planning to move out as a last-ditch signal to her that her behavior is unacceptable. NOTHING else has helped even slightly. I finally asked her why she was still married to me. The answer was sullen silence followed by even more intense vitriol. How do you help and love someone who is carrying around so much anger and hatred?

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41.

Geoff Hall (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:30 PM)

 

Is your partner a Christian?

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42.

AWeed (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:22 PM)

 

what do you do if your partner is not willing to accept her flaws and not willing to admit that she has got to change and grow as a human being. I have changed all aspects of my life and try to listen but it is very difficult being friendly and supportive when it only goes one way. Any advice. How do you get your spouse to talk to someone and to see her faults. Without admitting them to yourself, you never grow and it is always somoeone else's fault.

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43.

Brian (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:16 PM)

 

Jesus Christ is part of the answer. Being open to communication and openly communicating. Being honest with and about your self so that you can be honest with and to your wife. Asking the touch questions and being open to the answers you are given, hearing them with heart of someone in love so that you can truly hear the answer, not what bitterness you harbor in your own heart. Manning up to your own flaws and baggage that you have brought to the relationship and dealing with them, not expecting your wife to fix them for you. And yes, having a spiritual relationship, both of your own and together.

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44.

Geoff Hall (Mar 03rd 2009, 01:15 PM)

 

I also believe that Jesus Christ is the answer. I have been married 16 years and my wife and I have 3 beautiful children; ages 5, 9, and 13. Life is busy with school, sports, dance, work, etc... We have had our "ups" and "downs". I can definitely correlate that the "ups" and "downs" in my marriage are directly related to my relationship with God and that time in my life. When I am walking with Jesus, life is good which means my marriage is exactly as planned by my Lord and Saviour. If I choose to move away from God, life is not so good as well as my marriage. The moral to this story is wrap your arms around your faith and Christ will protect your marriage, your family, your career, and life in general!!!! Praise God!! His Mercy and undeserved blessings are truly amazing!!!!!

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45.

Alan (Mar 03rd 2009, 12:59 PM)

 

Marriage is a committment for life. The ring is the symbol / circle of that life long journey and should never be broken. If God is at the center of every relationship then the the husband and wife will also be drown closer together. Always remember to laugh, have fun, and continue to "date".

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46.

Bob (Mar 03rd 2009, 12:56 PM)

 

One word......RETROUVAILLE. A weekend program opening the communication lines back up. The erosion of every marriage starts with a communication breakdown. Its being able to communicate that will ultimately save the marriage and confirm the fact that "I do" was spoken before God, the community and each other. Peace and God bless.

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47.

Brian (Mar 03rd 2009, 12:48 PM)

 

My observances have been when separation occurs, one party has quit trying. Maybe they quit because they feel the other is not holding up their end or the other person is just to painful. No matter then reason, DON'T quit! Vows before God and man are not something that should be broken. Keep trying, praying, forgiving, humbling, giving.

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48.

John (Mar 03rd 2009, 12:48 PM)

 

My wife and I intend to go on a marriage retreat thru the church. Yes marriage is a full time committment. Due to work obligations we've moved 3 times in last several years with extensive time apart. Add three children into the situation and needless to say things get very unstable. Yes I believe Christ is the answer. I am betting my marriage on it.

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49.

Craig (Mar 03rd 2009, 12:38 PM)

 

Jesus Christ is the answer. Many times couples experience challenges in marriage and often look at their spouse as deficient in one or many aspects of the relationship. The complaining spouse starts convincing themselves that there is a void in there life that can only be filled by another women or man. That is a lie from the pit of hell. The void is a result of the lack of the presence of God in their life and once they pull down the brick wall of resistence and allow Jesus in their life, the void will be filled and the marriage will thrive.

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