seven stages of marriage
TRANSCRIPT
“Success in Marriage does not come merely
through finding the right mate, but through being
the right mate.” - Barnett R. Brickner
Ephesians 5 21: Submit to one another out of reverence for
Christ22: Wives, submit yourselves to your own
husbands as you do to the lord.23: For the husband is the head of the wife as
Christ is the head of the Church25: Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her
Stage 1Affection or Passion Stage
The honeymoon Stage
Lasts about 2 years for most couples
Nothing outside marriage matters much during this stage
Kids could come with a very early unwelcome change
Stage 2Actualisation Stage The “Honeymoon Stage” is over and a more real vision of the rest of your life begins
You discover the other side, which is the real side of each other
Instead of being viewed negatively this is the stage which reveals the areas of HELP needed by your spouse
Stage 3Rebellion
Revolution
We begin to miss our Freedom, Friends, Personal Hobbies.We become aware of our lost self InterestsYou both believe you're right
Stage 4Cooperation
You wake up and realise that while you're busy fighting There are bills to pay.Children are neglectedYou're becoming dysfunctional at work. etc
Stage 5Reunion
If you have children this stage will often last 10 -20 years
Parenting responsibilities are lessened as kids become independent
Stage 6Eruption - Explosion
This Stage can happen at any period in your BUT happens mostly when we’re around 40 - 50 yrs
Passing from Midlife into the Golden Years
Either You or your Spouse are dealing with major Life-shaking which could affect your marriage
Could be Death of Parents, Health issues, Adult Children issues
Financial issues
Stage 7Completion
A lot of surveys have proven that Marital Happiness is achieved after several decades of sharing your life together
Kids are grown and independent
You know each other very well
The Boy and Girl in you re-surfaces
You look back at the years behind you and appreciate each other for having walked the distance together