Christian Marriage

Doesn’t it feel great when someone tells you that they appreciate you?  We all need to feel needed.  We all need to feel valued.  Especially in marriage, we not only need to hear that we are appreciated, but we also need to give appreciation. There are two special benefits to communicating to our spouses that we appreciate them.

It keeps us thankful-  Thankfulness helps us to stay humble.  Thankfulness turns our eyes to how others help us.  When our attention turns to that, we begin to see the value that our spouse adds to us, instead of only how we feel they let us down.

Since selfishness is one of the greatest enemies of marriage, then keeping our eyes out for things to appreciate about our spouse will help us to focus on the many good qualities that they possess. As we mention how much we appreciate those things to them something begins to happen in them, which leads us to benefit number two.

It builds them up- When our spouse begins to realize that what they do and who they are is important to us, they have a greater sense of worth in themselves.

When we have an understanding of that we are worth something to somebody, then we tend to give even more of our selves to that person.  When we know that we are important in our spouse’s eyes, then they hold a greater value to us as well.

Be careful that we do not take this as flattering someone to get something.  This is about genuinely appreciating what others do for us.  If we would communicate appreciation, openly and truthfully, we would find ourselves growing closer and closer.  One of the best tools to keep the right focus in the togetherness of marriage is appreciation

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