ISSUES from the book “Love Never Ends”

ISSUESfrom the book “Love Never Ends”I. Introduction (1 minute) (Taken from the book, “Love Never Ends”, used withpermission.)When you are faced with an important decision that will affect both of you, how do youdecide as a couple? If there is conflict, difficult issue or tension that seems unresolved,how do you resolve it? The ability to look for win-win solutions to the big issues is oneof the important couple skills you can learn in marriage.The way we learned to resolve conflict and decide issues in childhood will tend tocontinue in marriage, unless we learn new ways of talking through issues. Maybe we’vediscovered that marriage is less about what I want, and much more about what WE bothwant and need. Resolving the big and small issues of day-to-day life will help to renewyour marriage.IIIssues in Our Married Life(H. & W.: A. & B. - 10 minutes)A. Presenters share an issue, conflict or disagreement you have recently had.B. Presenters share why the above issue is important to you personally and to yourrelationship. Share your feelings about the issue.C. Exercise - Part 1 from the book “Love Never Ends”, page 57.1. Participants answer the questions from the book. (5 minutes)2. Participants discuss privately with their spouse. (20 minutes)IIIDealing with Issues in the Future(H. & W.: A. & B. - 10 minutes)A. Presenters share some things you could do to help resolve the above issue.B. Presenters share how you began communicating with each other on this issue andmade decisions to help resolve it.C. Exercise - Part 2 from the book “Love Never Ends”, page 58.1. Participants answer the questions from the book. (5 minutes)2. Participants discuss privately with their spouse. (20 minutes)IVConclusion (2 minutes) (Taken from the book, “Love Never Ends”, used withpermission.)A. We often deal with conflict and disagreements in our marriage the way ourparents did. In our relationship we need to look at issues and seek to find a winwinsolution so we both come out as winners. Our feelings are an important partof any issue and sharing about our feelings can help us to understand one anotherbetter. This can help us to walk in the other’s shoes to better see why this is anissue between us. Unresolved issues, conflicts or disagreements will keep ourmarriage from growing in a healthy way.© 3/02 WWME, San Bernardino, CA Page 1 of 2

ISSUESfrom the book “Love Never Ends”B. Activities to do at home-Complete these statements: Growing up, I learned to resolve conflict by ...When people had something to fight about, they usually ....When I had an important decision to make, I learned that I need to ...I wish someone would have taught me to ...-Arm wrestle using the win-lose method. What does this simple exerciseteach you about dealing with conflicts and issues in your marriage? Now armwrestle using the win-win method. What is needed for win-win?© 3/02 WWME, San Bernardino, CA Page 2 of 2