The Art of Edification: A 3-Day Marriage Planਨਮੂਨਾ

Taken for Granted

"Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

Each of us has a heartfelt need to be honored and respected. All too often, however, we take our spouses for granted at home. Is it any wonder that so many mothers hold down jobs in the workplace today? Many work for financial reasons, but some do so to find the recognition and praise they don’t get from their mates. Could this also be why many men spend excessive hours at work—to receive from colleagues the accolades that they don’t get at home?

Your partner is a jack‐of‐all‐trades who brings a host of skills to your marriage: provider, short‐order cook, nurse, counselor, financial planner, gardener, arbiter of sibling disputes, spiritual leader, comforter, and much more. We encourage you to show your appreciation for these talents and services. Tell your wife how much you enjoy her cooking. Send your husband to work with a note praising him for his good judgment with the family budget. In front of guests, compliment her taste in home decor and his wise guidance of the children.

If we don’t make our mate feel honored and respected, we may find our partner looking for recognition somewhere else.

Questions for Today . . .

• What couple do I know that is an example of honoring each other?
• Do I honor my spouse well? What opportunities to bestow honor have I missed?
• Have I sought recognition elsewhere because I wasn't receiving enough at home?

Prayer . . .

Heavenly Father, forgive me for any self-centeredness or lack of consideration in my marriage. Please teach me to make honoring my spouse a reflex action, not a begrudging afterthought. Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Couples. Used with permission.)

Bonus Content: When You’re Dissatisfied With Your Spouse

There will be times in marriage when we will become dissatisfied with our spouse. Maybe he or she isn’t doing something we expect, or perhaps there are character or personality flaws that embarrass us and breed disrespect. In this video, Matt and Ariel Holcomb offer helpful ways to work through these issues.