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Building Bonds in Marriage
Several societal
forces move marriage partners toward isolation and loneliness.
But practical means are available to build the bonds that make
a marriage grow stronger. Make good use of these
guidelines:
- Spoil your
spouse. Little things mean a lot. A husband opening the
door for his wife or a wife cooking her husband's favorite
dish are simple ways to say "I love you" and "You are
important to me." Do some of your mate's chores. But don't
keep score by trying to split responsibilities and favors
50-50. Give 100 percent of yourself to your spouse.
- Offer sincere
praise and verbally express your love. Say "I love you"
and "Thank you" every day. Acknowledge and make use of each
other's strengths and abilities.
- Keep
disagreements private. Do not fight with our criticize
your mate in front of others, especially children.
- Be a
peacemaker. Here's an appropriate paraphrase of Matthew
5:9 to apply especially to marriage: "Blessed are those
marriages that have peacemakers." Don't worry about who
makes the first move to restore a relationship when a
conflict remains unresolved. Just do it.
- Spend time
together. Whether a weekend away from work or a walk
around the block, time together is an investment in your
marriage.
- Appreciate your
partner's admirable qualities. Pay more attention to
positive than negative traits in your mate.
- Give. Gifts
do not have to be expensive. Handwritten notes or hand
picked wildflowers are as valuable in showing appreciation
as any purchased gift.
- Remember
romance. Partners can take turns planning intimate
evenings and other special occasions. GN
-- David Treybig
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