Remember, when you get to the questions that are specific about your marriage, make sure you both share!
Read page 114-116 from the beginning of the chapter to one-fifth of the way down page 116, "'Done,' Greg said softly ...."
Greg is confused because the last he talked to Beth, she was angry, but now she's apologizing. He's confused about how she got to being contrite because he didn't see the process. They discuss why Beth was upset, why Greg acted like he did, then forgave each other.
Does any part of this scene seem familiar to you? Does your spouse sometimes confuse you? Do you have misunderstandings in your marriage? Do you think the scene was realistically played out? Can you rationally discuss issues and apologize for anything you did wrong?
King David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he often made mistakes, sometimes very serious ones. He always repented and 'made up' with whomever he'd hurt when he was wrong. (If possible. He couldn't bring Uriah back to life!) Find at least three places where David repented. (You might try after Uriah was murdered; after Absalom's death; after the census.) How was David's sin revealed? What were specific things he did to repent and be restored?
In your marriage, do you have scenes like the one in A Gilded Sky, or are you more likely to just let time wash away most of the hurt? What are the things that keep you from having healthy arguments? Are one or both of you afraid of conflict?
On page 112, about the middle of the page, Steve takes Heather to their private lanai to have a similar conversation. To practice how to have a healthy argument, first read (or better yet act out with just the dialogue) Greg and Beth's scene together, then role play the scene as it might have gone with Steve and Heather. (You can even pretend like they're already married if you want to!)
If you have any questions or comments about "A Novel Approach," please email me at cheryl@cherylokimoto.com
