4 Relationship Attributes to Develop: Lessons from Advent

By The Rev. Christopher Smith. Posted on Dec 24th 2012.

Advent traditionally involves 4 small words that can also enhance your relationship.

Advent is the season Christians observe leading up to Christmas. During this season, Christians traditionally focus on hope, peace, joy and love. These very same themes can also be important things to focus on in our relationships in order to enhance our relationship whether it is at the beginning early stage or is more mature. This focus can occur during Advent or can be something that is worked on by a couple at any time. For each of these ideas, here is two lessons you can take from Advent to understand the deeper sense these words can play and an exercise you can do with your partner to enhance your relationship:

HOPE

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Hope holds onto the promise of how things can be. As you do this in your relationship, remember that the bigger picture of your commitment and the relationship of the future can help you put the smaller picture of current situations into context as you hold onto hope.
The source of hope is not restricted just to us. On the Advent journey, Christians understand that God is a source that can be called on in order to keep hope. What do you call on that is greater than yourself or your relationship that will allow you to sustain your hope?
EXERCISE: Work together as a couple to describe the key elements or principles on which your relationship will be built on in the future. Find ways to foster a focus on these things.

PEACE

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The Rev. Christopher Smith

Counselor/Therapist

The Rev. Christopher L. Smith, LMFT has served as a national leader around mental health issues both within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and in professional counseling organizations. He works directly with individuals, couples, families and supervisees as the Clinical Director of Seeking Shalom in New York City. He also brings his insight to help a wider audience through writing, speaking and consultations.

Location: New York, NY

Credentials: LAC, LMFT, LMHC, MDiv, MS, SAP

Specialties: Couples/Marital Issues, Forgiveness, Spiritual

Website: http://www.SeekingShalom.org

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