Respect
Respect is an essential characteristic of relationship satisfaction for dating, engaged, and married couples. Healthy relationships have learned to develop mutual respect for each other. Mutual respect means to extend honor toward one another rather than a military expression of yes, or no sir. Mutuality is another form of hospitality that couples extend to one another as they serve each other in a spirit of deference and humility. Respect is taking a position of gratitude and humility toward one’s spouse, fiancé, or boy/girlfriend.
A couple that excels at mutual respect (returned honor) will also deepen their friendship respect each other in this way. The Respect Report consists of nine statements, such as I treat my spouse as a coequal. I focus on my spouse’s positive characteristics and often ask my spouse for their opinion. The report will give a side by side comparison of the man and woman’s self-view and their views of each other.
The Relationship Assessment uses thirteen statements to measure relationship satisfaction, such as treating my spouse as an equal partner. My spouse treats me as an equal partner. The Report gives a side by side comparison of the man’s and woman’s views about themselves and each other regarding their relationship. Relationship satisfaction describes the quality of dating, engaged, or marriage relationships. The statements will read boy/girlfriend for dating couples, fiancé for engaged couples, and spouse for married couples.
The relationship Report also includes:
Strength worksheets that help couples to celebrate their agreement (strengths).
- Improvement needed worksheets that guide couples to discuss areas of improvement or disagreement and to strengthen their relationship.
- All worksheets use Scriptures, Principles, Discussion Questions, and Practical Applications.
- Growth Plans are devotionals that help couples begin their journey of enrichment.
The Bible teaches “not to think of himself (herself) more highly than he (she) ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt with each one a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). A couple may think or approach things differently, but mutual respect is the goal. Couples who are willing to read the Scriptures and pray for godly wisdom will still have disagreements and value things differently; however, mutual respect is foundational to a healthy and vibrant relationship.
Mutual respect is another form of hospitality that couples extend to one another as they serve each other in a spirit of deference and humility.
Recommended Book:
The Journey to Oneness: Enriching, Renewing and Reconciling Marriage Relationships (by Ron Hitchcock)
