In the spirit of National Marriage Week , I’d like to share a little something my pastor wrote in our Sunday bulletin last week that I thought was good. He didn’t title it so I’ll call it –
When you let your marriage just “sit”, it’ll eventually get rusty and break down, just like your car.
1. Recommit yourself to your marriage every day.
No, you and your spouse aren’t going to incessantly stand in front of your loved ones in formalwear. But if you want to cultivate a strong and happy marriage, you should start each morning by making a renewed personal commitment to keeping your relationship healthy and rewarding.
2. Verbalize the things that you love and appreciate all the time.
3. Acknowledge the little things your spouse does, and return the favor.
Do small but meaningful acts for your spouse – and don’t be surprised if he or she starts doing the same for you. If your wife hates unloading the dishwasher, make a point to get into the kitchen and tackle it first. Or make a mental note to wash the sheets Friday afternoon so that they’ll be clean when your husband sleeps in on Saturday.
4. Don’t let resentment build.
When you live with another human being, it’s inevitable you’re going to annoy each other. While it’s not a good idea to constantly nit-pick your spouse, it’s also unhealthy to let issues and negative feelings fester.
5. Date your spouse again.
When you’re newly in love and in full courtship mode, you do everything you can to spend every free moment with your partner. Eventually, work, kids and life in general gets in the way. It’s easy to go weeks at a time without having any serious conversations that don’t revolve around work, money, or kids. That’s why it’s imperative to set aside time to date your spouse.
I love these, Erika. I was going to try to comment on a favorite but…well, there’s a LOT of wisdom in these. They speak well to the work of marriage and the joy that can come from digging your toes in and committing to that. 🙂 Thanks for sharing them!
Thanks Sarah! Yes I knew as soon as I read those on the way home from church that I had to share them. My pastor is good about doling out simple and practical wisdom.