| All marriages, at some point, go through rough | | | | places that you can go for help, such as marriage |
| times. There is no way around it. When it does, | | | | retreats. |
| the first thing a lot of people do is to go outside | | | | Professional marriage counselors can help, but |
| of their marriage and look for help. Is the help | | | | they can also cost an arm and a leg. They can |
| offered from an outside party good for your | | | | offer sound advice, but both of you must be |
| marriage? | | | | willing to not only GO to one, but you have to tell |
| When a marriage is in trouble, one of the first | | | | each other EVERYTHING. Everything must come |
| things people do is to go to family and friends for | | | | out into the open, or that kind of counselling just |
| advice. Sometimes this isn't the best idea. Family | | | | won't work. |
| and friends should be there for support - | | | | Any marital advice that is offered can be used |
| someone to lean on, someone to listen. Why not | | | | for the good of your marriage, IF you can adjust |
| for advice? | | | | it specifically for YOUR marriage. What will help |
| Family and friends, although not intentionally, | | | | one marriage can destroy another. How can you |
| choose sides. If you are the one seeking advice, | | | | tell if it will work for yours? That part is easy. |
| they will try to help you by suggesting things that | | | | You know how you respond to different |
| would benefit you - not both of you. The same | | | | circumstances, and how your spouse does. If the |
| goes for friends - they don't want to make things | | | | advice you got was to talk to your spouse, and |
| worse for either of you, but they offer advice | | | | neither of you like to talk, then that won't work |
| that will benefit one of you more than the other. | | | | for you. Obviously, the ARE ways that the two |
| Friends and family can offer suggestions, | | | | of you communicate, though. Instead of talking, |
| especially if they have been through similar things | | | | express your thoughts and feelings the way that |
| in their own relationship. But, since no two | | | | the two of you are comfortable with. |
| relationships are the same, then you have to | | | | There are many forms of advice out there, and a |
| adjust their advice to suit your own relationship. | | | | lot of it may be very good advice. But NO advice |
| If you are involved in church, seek advice from | | | | is good if it won't conform to your marriage. Try |
| your Pastor or Priest. They can not only offer | | | | new ways of dealing with problems. There are as |
| advice, but the support you need. Churches | | | | many ways to fix problems as there are the |
| sometimes offer marriage counseling services. | | | | problems themselves. Your marriage is unique - as |
| They can offer ways to communicate with your | | | | the two of you are. Lean on each other, support |
| spouse, and ways to solve the problems you are | | | | each other, and the two of you will get through |
| faced with, spiritually. They can tell you of other | | | | this together. |