YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

If you graph marriage satisfaction you get a graph similar to this:



Point A = Newly married; very satisfied
Point B = Preschoolers; obviously stressful
Point C = Teenagers; obviously stressful
Point D = Empty Nesters; satisfied again

Now, what the church has typically done in the past is recognise the need to do something about the two low points... our B & C parents. So we've taken them head on (in the midst of their so to speak dissatisfaction). While this is better than not doing anything to strengthen our marriages... a better solution would be to reach our B & C parents at the high points prior to the low times. Make sense? Teach newlyweds about the struggles of preschoolers, etc.

But don't forget about the greatest untapped resource available to our B & C parents. The D people. These are people who have been through the struggles and have made it to the other side. Why are our D people not the ones hosting the Date Nights and Free Baby Sitting nights? We need to tell them, "Enough of your fellowships and green bean casseroles!" Come watch my kids while I go spend some eye-time with my wife and help us build up our marriage.

And if their rebuttal is that they are not fast enough anymore to keep up with the kiddos, then tell them to go recruit the A folks... they've got nothing better to do right?

The church needs to stop screaming, "Don't get divorced" with no context or follow up. Rather, we need to start equipping people how to have great marriages!