Life can be very full and very busy. We can be occupied with going to the gym, raising kids, working in our kid’s classroom, cleaning the house, working a full-time job, and the list goes on and on. It is easy to be so focused on all of the demands of the day and striving to be the best – the best parent, the best employee, the best soccer mom, or the best spouse that we simply lose touch with the basics in our marital relationship. What are those basics? While there are numerous that we could come up with, I want to mention four here today.
- Using our manners – saying please and thank you for example. I had couple in my office today with a husband who was quick to make requests of his wife, but very lax on expressing his appreciation when she followed through. We learned manners when we were young and they will serve us well now.
- Thinking about them – as an example, while sitting on the couch watching TV, my wife will almost always ask me if she can get me anything when she is going to the kitchen. I appreciate her continued thoughtfulness.
- Physical affection – this can be as easy as holding hands when you are walking down the sidewalk together, or giving each other a hug when you get home from work.
- Talking about your day – lets the other person into your world that they have been excluded from while they, or you, were at work. Sharing some details helps them feel more a part of your life.
As a cell phone commercial says, “It’s not complicated.” If we will be intentional with these small things, they just might result in deeper connections.