The DNA of Relationships Read Online Free PDF Page B

relationships with God and each other.
    There was only one catch. God told them not to eat any fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But the deceiver convinced them otherwise. He told them that if they ate the fruit from the tree, they would be like God. Wanting the same wisdom and power as God, Adam and Eve chose to disregard God’s instructions, and they chose what they thought was the better deal.
    The next time God came walking in the Garden to spend time with them, Adam and Eve hid from him because they were ashamed and afraid of the consequences of their actions. 2 When God questioned them, Adam pointed the finger at Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Neither was willing to take responsibility.
    Adam and Eve’s choice changed everything. Gone was the harmonious relationship they had enjoyed with God. Gone was the satisfying relationship with each other. Their relationships were shattered. And as a result we have been struggling with shattered relationships ever since.
    The DNA Code
Everything we need to know about the DNA of relationships is encoded in this story. The relationship DNA code is made up of three simple yet profound strands:

1.You are made for relationships.
2.You are made with the capacity to choose.
3.You are made to take responsibility for yourself.
    While these sound simple—and they are—understanding them could revolutionize your life and your relationships. That’s what this book is about—applying these three profound concepts to the relationship problems you’re facing right now.
    We still see people who show up at our marriage intensives with the attitudes Adam and Eve had. When people exclude God and try to navigate their own way through the relationship maze, we see much more fear prevalent in their lives. But we have also found that relationships change the fastest and easiest when people understand the relational DNA and apply the principles to their relationships.
    1. YOU ARE MADE FOR RELATIONSHIPS
The other day, I received a letter from a young man who had gotten back together with his girlfriend after a difficult conflict and a terrible fight. Eric had been working through some things at our counseling centers, and it apparently had helped him and his girlfriend, and they got back together. Eric’s closing sentence was, “Sometimes I feel that I can’t live with her, and yet I know I can’t live without her.”
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DNA OF RELATIONSHIPS

1. You are made for relationships.
2. You are made with the capacity to choose.
3. You are made to take responsibility for yourself.
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    How often do we hear that said? Well, there’s a reason for that. It’s the DNA: You are made to need relationships. Even when they are hard, difficult, or just plain frustrating, you need relationships. It’s the way you are wired. You have a longing to belong to someone, to be wanted and cherished for the valued person you are.
    Relationships are not an option. From the moment you’re born, you’re in relationship with parents. Soon you’re in relationship with other children. Later you have relationships in the workplace, and you develop relationships with close friends. And eventually most people develop a relationship with someone they deeply love.
    When a relationship becomes difficult or painful, we tend to dismiss the relationship and may for a while try to abandon all relationships. But eventually we come back and seek connection once again.
    While we can choose how we will participate in relationships, we have no choice about whether we will participate in them. This is a critical point. Your only real choice is