This document discusses 4 major challenges that married couples face: 1) keeping an intimate relationship, 2) dealing with changes, 3) handling conflict, and 4) managing finances. It provides tips for overcoming each challenge, such as continuing courtship to maintain intimacy, accepting that change is inevitable, agreeing on rules for resolving disputes, and structuring a financial system and communicating about money. The overall message is that marriage requires work, but following biblical principles like respect, understanding, forgiveness, and putting each other first can help couples overcome challenges.

2. 4 Major
Challenges
1. Keeping an intimate
relationship
2. Dealing with the
inevitable changes
3. Handling conflict in a
loving way
4. Managing family
finances

3. LetLet
marriagemarriage
be held inbe held in
honorhonor
among all.among all.
13 : 4
Wedding At Cana

5. Courtship
• Demanding process
• Pursue it at the risk
of:
– well-being
– rest
– everything else
until the capture is
made. Then …relax..

6. intimacy
• Courtship continued
• Glue of marriage
• More than a satisfactory
sexual relationship
• Sum of the little things
for a response through
thick and thin because
there is enjoyment in
being together.

7. intimacy
• Easily lost in:
– Neglect
– Indifference
• Results in:
– Isolation
– Indifference
• Once lost, can be regained
by courtship techniques

8. Intimate moments

9. Lead a life worthyLead a life worthy
of the calling toof the calling to
which you havewhich you have
been called,been called,
with allwith all
lowliness andlowliness and
meekness,meekness,
with patience,with patience,
forbearing oneforbearing one
anotheranother
in love.in love.
4:2

11. CHANGE
• Married life has been a
series of:
– Changes
– Adjustments
– Realizations
• Marriage stands a
better chance of
succeeding if you
understand that change
is inevitable
• Constructive change is
essential

12. PATTERNS OF CHANGE
1. Expect
change
2. Not all
change
is good
3. Change can
be
encouraged
4. Change
begins
with self
5. Prayer is
necessary

13. This is MyThis is My
commandment,commandment,
that youthat you
love one another aslove one another as
I have loved you.I have loved you.
4:2

15. CONFLICT
• A sign that marriage
is alive
• Means of growth or
disintegration
• Agree on rules for
handling disputes

16. PLAY BY THE RULES
1. Be
specific
2. Listen
3. Stick to
the
point
4. Appropriate
time &
place
5. Keep things
in
perspective
6. Get it over
with
7. Forgive

17. Judge not, andJudge not, and
you will not be judged;you will not be judged;
condemn not, andcondemn not, and
you will not beyou will not be
condemned;condemned;
forgive andforgive and
you will be forgiven.you will be forgiven.
6: 37

19. Managing money
• The leading cause of
conflict within marriage
is money
– Who controls it
– How is it spent
• Money is the most
visible symbol of self-
worth and struggles
over power

20. Be Realistic
1. Structure
your own
system
3. Agree on
essentials
4. Put the
marriage
first
5. Communicate
2. Provide
independence
6. Put money in
perspective

21. WhereWhere
your treasure is,your treasure is,
there will bethere will be
your heart also.your heart also.
6:21

25. Behold,
I will liken you to a cedar
in Lebanon,
with fair branches and
forest shade of
great height…
It was beautiful
in its greatness,
in the length
of its branches;
for its roots
went down to
abundant waters.
Ezekiel 31: 3-7

26. A Married
Couple’s Prayer
Lord, we are sorry
and we ask your
forgiveness
that sometimes
we show lack of
respect,
and understanding
and love;

27. That we neglect each
other by neglecting
to pray for each
other;
That we have often
spoiled the perfect
relationship you
planned for us.

28. And yet we also want
to thank you
For the happiness we
have known
together
For the sadness we
have faced
together

29. For the problems we
are overcoming
together
For the love which
you gave us which
is completely
unspoiled. AMEN.
Christopher Idle

30. •Fr. Larry Tan, SDB
Inspirational Series