The old adage, "distance makes the heart grow fonder" can be true. A separation can be a fruitful time for making the marriage healthy again.
Talking Points:
- Tip #1: Agree on your final destination. Hopefully, you both agree that the ultimate goal is to save the marriage so the “break” gives you space to work on the individual stuff. Ephesians 5:21-31
- Tip #2: Tell your spouse how they can earn your trust back. The more specific you can be, the better. Trust is a measurable thing. You will know if you can trust your spouse when you see them doing things that you’ve asked them to do. John 10:10
- Tip #3: Agree on appropriate boundaries. Discuss how often you feel comfortable talking to one another and if affection is allowed.
- Tip #4: Seek individual counseling. Identify the things in your own life that contributed to the marital problems and work on getting healthy in those areas.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Why are you considering separation or why did you decide to separate?
- Which of the 4 tips is the most important to you right now? Explain.
- What issues do you need to work on in individual counseling? What would you say for your spouse?
- Read John 10:10. Identify the areas where your marriage is totally broken. How can those areas be redeemed with God’s help?
- Read Ephesians 5:21-31. What are some areas where you can sacrifice more for your spouse and for a healthy marriage? How will you honor your marriage vows even during a time of separation?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
