Lei over at My Many Colored Days and Morning Glory do this Woman to Woman on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. I've enjoyed reading the thoughts and I've decided to join in. This week, you are to post tips that have kept your marriage alive. Here are some of mine after almost 5 years of marriage.
*Let me start with a quote by Jeffrey R Holland: "Wives, what of the unbridled tongue in mouth, of the power for good or ill in your words? How is it that such a lovely voice which by divine nature is so angelic, so close to the veil, so instinctively gentle and inherently kind could ever in a turn be so shrill, so biting, so acid and untamed? A woman's words can be more piercing than any dagger ever forged, and they can drive the people they love to retreat beyond a barrier more distant than anyone in the beginning of that exchange could ever have imagined. Sisters, there is no place in that magnificent spirit of yours for acerbic or abrasive expression of any kind, including gossip or backbiting, or catty remarks. Let it never be said of our home or our ward or our neighborhood that 'the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity...[burning] among our members.'"
This is one of my favorite quotes because as a wife and mother, I know that what I say has an impact. In my marriage, when my tongue IS bridled our relationship becomes stronger. It's amazing how the littlest things or the smallest remark can offend.
I also don't talk about my husband in an unkind way behind his back. He never has to worry what I might say to someone else about him. That keeps the trust in our marriage. When we keep ourselves in check, we are more loving and appreciative of each other.
*One of the smartest things we've done for our marriage is put our kids to bed earlier. They are in bed by 7pm and that leaves us a few hours together to be kid-free. This is the time when we can talk, play games together, or watch a movie. It's a perfect time for us to reconnect and take a step back.
*Being selfless plays a huge role in our marriage. When we give more and don't expect anything in return, there is a wonderful spirit in our home and in our hearts. This helps us to remember that we're in this together and it shows our love for each other. We've had many blessings come from doing this.
