Level 1 - Commitment and Openness Vision: I want to be with him/her! Think of the financial costs, pressures, changes of roles, living locations that occur when a couple gets married, and yet they still want to be married! Changing vision Honeymooner’s Committed Desirous Commitment often subtly built on one’s expectations. Challenges Honeymooner’s Unstable and love is unstable Hopes dashed Hopes regained (make-up) Reactionary Responses Honeymooner’s Gives up (usually temporary) on one’s mate - emotionally and physically Accepts lower expectations for a time (living by feelings rather than truth - oneness) Drops kind behavior and accepts less than acceptable words and actions Summary The early stage of marriage often is an expression of love. Although this fatuous love is ‘eros’ committal in nature, the commitment tends to be based upon on expectations and fulfilled one’s dreams. When the expectations do not pan out, then great ups and downs occur. Level 2 - The Challenging Steps to Keep a Marriage Growing Vision: Pursue God’s goals of marriage despite temporary setbacks The hopes of marriage are charged by a deep commitment to hopes that He gives one in God’s His Word lest one regress from the oneness obtained and step back into a focus on own one’s wants and desires. Young Married Changing Vision Couple’s Love: I do love being married, but… Lost temper: I get really upset with my spouse. Lose vision: is this all there is to marriage? Young Married Characteristics Couple’s Compromise: I am willing to put my ambitions ahead of our relationship. Devious: I fake genuine love to get what I want.
Level 1 - Commitment and Openness Vision: I want to be with him/her! Think of the financial costs, pressures, changes of roles, living locations that occur when a couple gets married, and yet they still want to be married! Honeymooner’s Changing vision Committed Desirous Commitment often subtly built on one’s expectations. Honeymooner’s Challenges Unstable and love is unstable Hopes dashed Hopes regained (make-up) Honeymooner’s Reactionary Responses Gives up (usually temporary) on one’s mate - emotionally and physically Accepts lower expectations for a time (living by feelings rather than truth - oneness) Drops kind behavior and accepts less than acceptable words and actions Summary The early stage of marriage often is an expression of ‘eros’ love. Although this fatuous love is committal in nature, the commitment tends to be based upon on one’s expectations and fulfilled dreams. When the expectations do not pan out, then great ups and downs occur. Level 2 - The Challenging Steps to Keep a Marriage Growing Vision: Pursue God’s goals of marriage despite temporary setbacks The hopes of marriage are charged by a deep commitment to God’s hopes that He gives one in His Word lest one regress from the oneness obtained and step back into a focus on one’s own wants and desires. Young Married Couple’s Changing Vision Love: I do love being married, but… Lost temper: I get really upset with my spouse. Lose vision: is this all there is to marriage? Young Married Couple’s Characteristics Compromise: I am willing to put my ambitions ahead of our relationship. Devious: I fake genuine love to get what I want.
FSGC14-Marriage-Handout-Blanks.docx