I Love You More! by : Pastor Timothy and Vanessa Russell | Equally Yoked Radio www.equallyyokedradio.org
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hen we receive a kind word or a thoughtful gesture, enjoy it and then consider how you might respond thoughtfully. When dealing with your spouse, it’s important to embrace the law of reciprocity. Ideally, all marriages would express agape love; a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love that gives without expecting anything back. Unfortunately, we live in an age where people are literally married to inanimate objects like cell phones. CBS News reported, “Wedding bells ring: LA man marries cellphone at Vegas chapel” spending hours a day focused on their own personal cares instead of the needs of their loved ones. What would the quality of our relationships be if we challenged ourselves to love our spouse even more than we did yesterday?Can you imagine how much fun it would be to creatively strive toward that goal using the same drive and sense of urgency that we apply to obtain money or a promotion?
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Many times we assume our spouses know that we love them because after all, “I put a ring on it didn’t I?” Thinking like this is the first step toward taking our spouse for granted, and before long we find that days, months, and even years go by without acknowledging the efforts of the one who means the most. And when that happens, “It won’t be long before the thrill is gone!” as BB King says. To prevent this, we must resist this temptation for complacency using the following strategy:
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Pray together even if it’s briefly, silently, or remotely.
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Prioritize your spouse’s needs above the needs of others including your children.
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Touch each other. Give your spouse a kiss and hug before you depart and when you reunite.
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Laugh together, be spontaneous, and find ways to be silly
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Express your gratitude and be specific.
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Think of unique ways you express love to your spouse draw a picture, sing your favorite song, make a favorite meal, or serve the community.
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Acknowledge what your spouse does well. Simply say, “I admire the way you...”
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Acknowledge mistakes promptly. A gentle and sincere word can turn away anger.
| Fall/Winter 2019
