Stratagy One

Hello! Week two reading The Four Seasons of Marriage by Gary Chapman. You are not behind...just jump in when you can! If you are not sure where your relationship currently is, please take a few moments to complete Marital Seasons Profile. I feel the material is much more helpful if you understand where your relationship is currently.

"We have to deal with the past before we can put it behind us. Otherwise, it keeps popping back up. But once we have resolved our past failures, we can spend our energy focusing on the present and create better seasons in the future." (pg 69)

Oh, how I don't like this one! I really identify with Brent, just push all the yuck from my past aside and keep moving forward. Ugh, but I know from experience that Mr Chapman is right. Sweeping dirt, crumbs, toys, laundry, etc. under the rug doesn't really clean up anything, it just masks the mess temporarily. When it resurfaces again, and it always does, it is more dirty, more damaged, more messed up than before.

So am I willing to take time to recognize my mistakes, my baggage? Am I willing to be brutally honest with myself, God and my spouse? Am I ready to forgive myself and seek forgiveness from my husband? What about him...am I open to hearing his confessions and offering forgiveness?

The promise of forgiveness from God is guaranteed. Forgiving myself is critical to not only the success of my marriage, but my own personal success. I think it's time to let go!