There are infinite ways to be intentional about loving your spouse and making your marriage the best it can be. My hope is to get you started by listing off some practical and easy ways:
- Start each day by telling your spouse how much you love, appreciate, and cherish him/her.
- Try to do something special at least once a month just for your spouse because your know he/she will love it.
- At least once a year, sit down, read, and recite your vows to each other again to keep them current and fresh in your mind.
- When you do not feel like loving your spouse, choose to love them anyway.
- Pray for your spouse and marriage daily.
- When you are feeling yourself beginning to have negative feelings toward your spouse, stop and focus on some of the good things about your spouse.
- Each day, tell yourself and your spouse that you love them.
- Maintain integrity by avoiding any potentially hazardous or dangerous situations that could harm your marriage.
- Think positively about your spouse and marriage.
While I am at it, I just wanted to share a little experience from yesterday that I found so encouraging. I was at Hallmark picking up some cards for various people, and I overheard an older lady telling the sales person that she had been married for 66 years. As i was leaving the store, I wanted to let her know how encouraging it was to hear that someone made it 66 years (that's quite the accomplishment!). Well, as I congratulated her, she proceeded to tell me that after 66 years of marriage, her husband had just passed away at the age of 91, and she was there picking up some things for the proceedings this weekend. She wasn't sad though because she said it was the best 66 years, and that they had created this amazing family together that all had wonderful memories to ponder upon. As I walked away, I thought to myself, "Isn't that what we all really crave? A lifetime with someone. A huge family of memories all started with a commitment we made and kept. All brought together in celebration of life." I was so encouraged and absolutely overwhelmed with excitement of hearing her story. What she and her husband had is what we all want, but so many of us aren't willing to do what it takes to get that.
Love does not come easily. Love is an action and requires work. Marriage may be one of the hardest things you will ever have to work at, but it's also the greatest thing to work at. Don't get discouraged - realize it's tough, it's work, there are going to be good and bad times, there are ups and downs. The important thing is to make your marriage a priority through it all and remember how it is so worth it. Stay intentional. Put the time, effort, and work into it, so that you can reap its rewards for the rest of your lives as will all the generations to follow you.
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