Love Notes 4.1 556 of 600

17
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
• Some people enter relationships or marriage with the idea that love is all about chemistry and
passion 24/7. They assume that when it doesn’t feel as hot as it first did, the love must be gone.
• Another idea of love centers on friendship. Some people assume that if a couple feels close,
communicates, and honestly shares their thoughts and feelings, it must be love.
• Other people have the idea that mature love is mostly about trust and commitment—
responsibility, dependability, faithfulness, being there, and mutual giving and support.
The challenge of keeping love alive
is to take care of all 3 sides.
In reality, real love
is not one thing—it
includes all three.
Real Love –
Keeping it Strong
real
love—keeping
it
strong

Previous Page Next Page

(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

Extracted Text (may have errors)

17
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
• Some people enter relationships or marriage with the idea that love is all about chemistry and
passion 24/7. They assume that when it doesn’t feel as hot as it first did, the love must be gone.
• Another idea of love centers on friendship. Some people assume that if a couple feels close,
communicates, and honestly shares their thoughts and feelings, it must be love.
• Other people have the idea that mature love is mostly about trust and commitment—
responsibility, dependability, faithfulness, being there, and mutual giving and support.
The challenge of keeping love alive
is to take care of all 3 sides.
In reality, real love
is not one thing—it
includes all three.
Real Love –
Keeping it Strong
real
love—keeping
it
strong

Help

18
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
Love Adviser
Imagine you are a relationship expert and a couple planning to marry wants your advice. They truly love
each other and want it to last. They had a child 10 months ago, and they want their child to grow up within a
healthy and lasting marriage. Neither of them had that as a child.
You know that chemistry, friendship, and trust/commitment are all important in keeping love alive. Offer
this young couple advice on how to keep all 3 sides strong.
Consider couples you’ve observed (relatives, neighbors, parents, friends, or couples on TV or in film).
• Can you think of a couple that is doing a good job showing and living their commitment to each other?
What behaviors show it?
• Do you know a couple who tends to the romantic side of their relationship? What behaviors show it?
• Have you seen a couple who is good about communicating, staying in touch with each other, and
having fun like good friends do? How does it show?
Offer advice on specific behaviors—things they can do. Don’t forget that it’s easy to ignore one or more
sides of the love triangle as life gets busy with jobs, kids, and a home. Don’t be afraid to tell them some
don’ts to warn them about things that weaken one or more sides of a relationship.
Chemistry:
Friendship:
Trust &Commitment:
real
love
— keeping
it strong

Previous Page Next Page

(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

16
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
5. Can we communicate well and fight fairly?
Can you both express your true feelings? Does your partner (or friend) seem to care about what you say? Do
you and your partner (or friend) manage strong emotions, like anger, in safe ways?
6. Does one of us pressure, use, manipulate, play games, or act phony?
Or, is the relationship/friendship real and honest? Describe.
7. Am I respected? Do I have standards?
Set a high standard for how you wish to be treated. Does your partner or friend treat you with respect and
care? And do you likewise? Are you setting a good example for your younger siblings or child?
7 Principles of Smart Relationships
1. Seek a good match.
2. Pay attention to values. Are they in sync?
3. Don’t try to change a person into someone they are not.
4. Don’t change yourself to get someone’s love or friendship.
5. Expect good communication.
6. Don’t play games, be phony, pressure, or use someone.
7. Expect respect. Have standards for how you are treated.
These principles are adapted from the work of Les and Leslie Parrott. Taken from the book Relationships
by Dr. Les Parrott, III and Leslie Parrott. Copyright. Used by permission of The Zondervan Corporation.
seven
questions
to
ask

Previous Page Next Page

(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

Extracted Text (may have errors)

Help

loading