51 Creative Ideas for Marriage Mentors: Connecting Couples to Build Better Marriages

Contents
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction: Getting Big Results from This Little Book 13
Part One
Ideas for Mentoring Any Couple
1. Practice the Thirty-Second Rule..... 21
2. Curb Marriage Gossip..... 22
3. Place a Photo of Your Mentoree Couple
in Your Home..... 24
4. Keep Contact Information Handy..... 25
5. Send a Word of Encouragement..... 26
6. Ask the One Question That Could Change
Their Marriage..... 27
7. Pass Along a Helpful Article or Email..... 29
8. Teach the Single Most Powerful Marriage Principle..... 30
9. Let Them Know about a Local Marriage Seminar..... 32
10. Be Aware of “What’s On”..... 34
11. Open the Church Doors..... 35
12. Practice Old-Fashioned Hospitality..... 36
13. Be One of the First to Send a Christmas Greeting..... 37
14. Double Your Serve..... 38
15. Remember Their Anniversary..... 40
Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Any Couple
. 41
Part Two
Ideas for Mentoring Engaged
and Newlywed Couples
16. Identify Their Top Ten Needs..... 45
17. Help Them Sink Their Roots Down Deep..... 47
18. Cautiously Connect with Your Mentorees’ Parents..... 49
19. Do Some Coupon Cutting..... 51
20. Consider a Babysitting Opportunity..... 52
21. Give the In-Law Inventory..... 53
22. Make a Splash with a Low-Cost Gift..... 55
23. Chart Their Spiritual Journey..... 56
24. Make Their First Noel One to Remember..... 58
25. Explore Their Roles..... 59
26. Note the Little Things..... 60
27. Envision Their Golden Anniversary..... 62
Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Engaged
and Newlywed Couples..... 63
Part Three
Ideas for Mentoring Couples
Moving
from Good to Great
28. Dream Big..... 67
29. Find Inspiration Around You..... 69
30. Turn the Tables..... 71
31. More Time or More Money?..... 73
32. The Most Influential Person..... 75
33. Homeward Bound..... 76
34. “I Love You More Than.....”..... 77
35. Decisions, Decisions!..... 78
36. Monkey See, Monkey Do..... 79
37. Start a Date Club..... 80
38. Pay Now, Play Later..... 82
39. The Big Question..... 84
Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Couples
Moving from Good to Great..... 85
Part Four
Ideas for Mentoring Couples
in Distress
40. Take Inventory..... 89
41. Steer Clear of the Number-One Marriage Problem..... 91
42. Turn Murphy’s Law on Its Ear..... 93
43. What Would You Miss?..... 95
44. Reveal the Two Most Overlooked “Romantic” Phrases..... 97
45. Give Them a Reputation to Uphold..... 98
46. The Couples-
Communication Strengths Finder..... 99
47. Explore the Lesson of an Old Farm Couple
...... 101
48. Avoid the Blame Game..... 103
49. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda..... 105
50. What’s Your Favorite?..... 107
51. What Have You Been Looking For?..... 109
Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Couples
in Distress..... 112
Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?..... 115
Notes..... 117