This document discusses the importance of communication in maintaining a healthy marriage. It notes that lack of communication can lead love to die and cause problems. Good communication requires being knowledgeable, loving, transparent, trustworthy, positive, and sensitive. It also requires being an effective communicator, active listener, concise, and prayerful. The document provides tips for arguing fairly such as clarifying issues, repeating words, choosing the right time, thinking before speaking, resolving to resolve, and attacking the problem rather than the person. Holding hands during and after arguing is also suggested.

1. Please Listen To Me

2. Communication Is The Life Blood Of A Marriage 1. When communication stops, love begin to die. 2. The ability to stop and listen is one way of measuring the effectiveness of a life or a marriage.

3. A Pattern of Miscommunication 1 Continued miscommunications will lead to problems, marriage counselors, or the divorce court. 2 The first step is a disagreement that cannot be resolved.

4. In-Depth Relationships 1 Often people blame unhappiness in Marriage on a faulty choice of mates when in reality it is a faulty adjustment. 2 Marriage takes time & commitment to a common goal to develop proper relationships.

5. The Determining Factor Communication with understanding seems to be the one factor that determines the quality of other marital ingredients.

6. Rules For Good Communication 1 Be knowledgeable. 2 Be loving (1 Cor. 13:4-8). 3. Be transparent. 4. Be trustworthy. 5. Be positive. 6. Be sensitive.

7. Rules For Good Communication (Cont.) 7 Be an effective communicator. 8 Be an active listener. 9 Be concise. 10 Be prayerful.

8. How to Argue Fairly 1 Clarify the issue. 2 Repeat their words. 3 Choose the righttime to discuss a problem. 4 Think before you speak. 5 Resolve to resolve.

9. How to Argue Fairly (Cont.) 6 Attack the problem, not the person. 7 Hold hands. Paul Falkner suggests “You will never know how hard it is to argue holding hands until you have tried it …and don’t turn loose until you have prayed together.”