You captured his heart, now what?
If you’re anything like me, you don’t want things to grow stale. My plan is to be dancing cheek to cheek with Michael long into retirement. My desire is to not only capture his heart, but to keep it until death do us part.
In doing so, I look to wisdom that’s been passed down through the ages, habits that are evident in every tight-knit relationships, and time-tested secrets that are grounded in wisdom and backed up by the Word.
Are they really a secret? Not so much, but as the saying goes the truth is often hidden in plain site. When pride, impatience, and self-righteousness stand in our way we don’t see the rewards of true love.
So what are they? What are the time-tested secrets for keeping his heart? As far as I’m concerned these five top the list:
1. Pray with and for each other – Prayer is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to each other. It shows that you care enough to bring their needs before an almighty God. There isn’t a better way to strengthen your marriage or your spouse for that matter.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12
2. Spend time together – God created wives to be companions with their husbands, and the best way to be companions is to spend time enjoying each other. This doesn’t mean that you have to go on expensive dates together–unless you want too–it can be as simple as reading to each other after dinner or playing a game of chess.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. – Genesis 2:18
3. Resolve conflict quickly – Resolving conflict quickly, calls for humility. We all want to be right don’t we? The moment we realize that doing right is better than being right, we strengthen our marriage. You might have a point, and you may very well be correct, but hurting someone else to make that point isn’t so cool.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Philippians 2:3, NIV
4. Respect each other – Show honor to your spouse with both your words and your actions. Speak highly of him. Allow him the honor of leading the the family. Be intentional about building him up.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. – Ephesians 5:33, NIV
5. Pour out grace – Holding grudges and keeping a record of all the times you’ve been hurt over the years only serves to nurture resentment. We all make mistakes and we’re all a work in progress. Being able to forgive and let go isn’t easy, but it’s Christ-like. Remember on the cross–during the hour of His death–He cried out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Those are powerful words that reflect a God of incomparable grace.
[Love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:5, NIV
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife
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