It's a challenge to cultivate the marriage when kids are in the mix from the start. But, a healthy marriage is the foundation to building a new family.
Talking Points:
- If the marriage isn’t strong, then the family can’t be strong. It may seem selfish to prioritize the marriage, but it’s in the best interest of your kids for you to build a good foundation that can withstand the stresses that come with blending families.
- Make a commitment to discuss everything with total honesty.You need to be totally open about your fears and concerns and commit to working through each issue as they come. Don’t wait or think that time will make it better. You have to be proactive for this marriage to be successful. Proverbs 20:7
- Avoid bringing your past baggage into this marriage. You need to see this relationship as a fresh start. If your spouse does something that reminds you of your ex or triggers some negative response, talk to your spouse about it.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- On a scale from 1-10, how are you doing at prioritizing the marriage? How can you improve?
- Read Proverbs 20:7. Why does your marriage need to be a priority for the sake of the family?
- Read Proverbs 12:22. What are some of the issues you’ve been dealing with so far? Are you able to speak honestly about them? Explain.
- Evaluate yourself. Have you allowed previous baggage to affect this relationship? Explain.
- Evaluate your spouse. Have they allowed previous baggage to affect this relationship. Explain.
- What are some productive things you can do to guard against this from happening in the future?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
