Focusing our attention on our mate when they are talking to us, concerning our self with what concerns them, considering their issues as our own, and being available to them if they need our help makes each of us feel valued and cared for.
This increases our feelings of love for one another, and it cements the bond between us. We enjoy feelings of security, permanency, and being appreciated and valued. This also decreases feelings of insecurity, or that we do not matter, or that we need to earn our place in our mate’s affections, or that rejection is a possibility, etc.
Making time to have deeper conversations about our individual concerns and remembering not to trivialize, criticize, or act with condescension if we do not share one another’s attitude about them, helps us to feel like equal partners. If issues are important to our mate, then we show them love by taking these matters seriously too.
We treat each other with dignity, respect, admiration, love, appreciation, etc. We enjoy one another’s company. We look forward to spending time with each other; and we do not overly schedule our day so that we squeeze out daily couple time. Snuggling on the couch, laughing together, showing support are all vitally important to a successful relationship.
However, we also guard each other’s private times at home. Giving one another the privilege of watching separate TV shows, going to separate rooms to listen to our favorite music, to paint a picture, to write a blog post, prepare a sermon, sew on a project, or to decompress with a video game, etc. will help each other to feel freedom at home to be our self.
All of this nurturing behavior makes tense conversations less intimidating, keeps differences of opinion from tearing us apart, prevents us from jumping to conclusions or having unwarranted fears or expectations, etc. Rather than automatically thinking ahead about our own agendas, we really pay attention to one another. This helps us to feel valued, appreciated and loved.
Prayer:
Father God, help us to care about one another’s needs and to do everything we can to make sure our mate enjoys good things in life. We want to be partners in our marriage, to respect and appreciate each other, and to show compassion and love at all times. Teach us ways to communicate love to our mate in their own love language.
- https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/
Help us to readily apologize when we hurt one another, to support each other’s interests, to appreciate all the little things our mate does to make our life easier and more organized, etc. Remind us that we do not need to make grand gestures or go to fancy restaurants or to spend money we do not have on gifts, outings and hobbies, because we can cuddle on the couch or take a ride in the country or sit together on the porch swing, etc. and give each other our undivided attention, which are worth more than anything else we can buy or do.
Thought for the Day:
Endurance in relationships is increased by dedicating our life to bless our spouse; when we are walking on the same path, we can better support each other, communicate with one another, and strengthen our bond as “one flesh.”
