| How do you know when it's time for marriage | | | | -Take time out from the busy-ness of life and |
| counseling? Easy. Are you in a relationship, even a | | | | become clear on what your common goals are |
| good one? Then it is time. | | | | and how you want to get there |
| Years ago my wife and I participated in an | | | | -Strategize how you will handle holiday |
| organization called "Marriage Encounter," which | | | | get-togethers with in-laws and other relatives that |
| emphasized communication techniques. I've always | | | | are not that pleasant to be with |
| liked its motto: "Making Good Marriages Even | | | | And this is just the beginning. There is so much |
| Better!" | | | | we can do to improve these marvelous |
| That's what I hope to emphasize for you today. | | | | relationships we've been given. |
| It's time to make your good relationship even | | | | Is it worth the cost? I think of it in terms of the |
| better! | | | | old question at the end of life: Will you wish you |
| And how do I suggest you do that? If you have | | | | had spent more time at work, or more time on |
| a relationship that is doing pretty good and doesn't | | | | your family and marriage? |
| really need any help, then I want you to go to | | | | For most of us, the answer is clear. There is |
| Marriage Counseling! | | | | nothing in the end more important than our |
| You may think that counseling is only for | | | | relationships to the people we treasure. |
| problems, but that's not so. People without all | | | | The cost of taking yourselves to a counselor and |
| those nasty problems can use the process to | | | | working on life together is really nothing compared |
| create far better lives than they ever imagined. | | | | to the lifetime of joy and wonder that is possible |
| I so love it when a couple comes to me just to | | | | with your partner. |
| grow. I'll admit that this is usually not the case. It | | | | The grocery bill, the car payments, the mortgage, |
| usually takes pain to get people through my office | | | | the clothes for the kids and the thousands of |
| door. But, occasionally, couples come to me just | | | | other things we feel we must spend our money |
| to make their good relationship even better. What | | | | on will all argue against this couple counseling |
| fun that is! | | | | opportunity. |
| So, what does a couple do in therapy if they | | | | However, I suggest that it is not an issue of |
| have no problems to work on? There are SO | | | | whether you can afford it, but whether you can |
| many things we can do: | | | | afford to not do it. Is your relationship really good |
| -Develop even more sophisticated communication | | | | enough for you, or do you wonder if there is |
| abilities | | | | more? |
| -Use psychological instruments (tests) to determin | | | | Go for it! Grab all the love and togetherness you |
| differences, simularities, and how to complement | | | | can get! And use a counselor to help you see |
| each other's personality gifts | | | | what you may be missing. |
| -Seek spiritual growth together | | | | |