Do You Practice This In Your Marriage?

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Debi Walter

Do You Practice This In Your Marriage?

My word for this year is Contentment. Imagine my excitement when I discovered, The Contentment Journal, by Rachel Cruze. It’s a 90 day devotional where she gives prompts everyday to help you discover how you’re doing in three areas:

  1. Gratefulness
  2. Humility
  3. Contentment.

She says,

“Before we can be content, we must be humble. And before we can master humility, we have to be grateful. After all, there’s no room for comparison and discontentment in a heart filled with gratitude.”

I’m realizing how much this is helping our marriage. Spending 30 days focusing on gratitude opened up a new appreciation for Tom and the things he does for me without thought. He’s not thoughtless, he’s formed a habit of being intentional to care for me in practical ways. If I’m not paying attention this could easily be taken for granted.

In what ways does your spouse care for you on a regular basis? Has it become unnoticed because they have done it for so long? Have you developed an expectation in this regard?

If so, can I encourage you to take a 30 day gratitude challenge? Make it a point at the end of each day to thank them for something they have done, said or planned to bless you. It can be as small as doing a mundane task daily, or as big as finishing a huge project you’ve asked them to do for months. Whatever it is, the point is to notice.

We all want to be noticed and appreciated. But no one more than by our spouse.

Today is our 41st wedding anniversary, and we have not arrived. We are still learning and growing in this area of gratefulness. It’s especially crucial now when so many in this season settle into their comfortable lives and hit auto-pilot. Please don’t do this! Make this a priority everyday as long as you both shall live. After all, gratefulness glorifies God and lifts our eyes above what troubles us. It makes us value what is invaluable.

May your days be filled with gratefulness to God for the spouse with whom you share life and love.

Happy Anniversary Tom! I thank God for the miracle of YOU. I love our story and I love us.

41 years ago today.

About Debi Walter

Tom and Debi have been sharing encouragements through their blogs for many years. Marriage, Reading God's Word and documenting family history is our focus. Growing in our relationship with the Lord is primary in all we say, write or do. We are grateful for all who desire to join us in the same endeavors.
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10 Responses to Do You Practice This In Your Marriage?

  1. Andrew Budek-Schmeisser says:
    February 24, 2020 at 10:21 am

    Happy Anniversary, guys!

    I’m grateful for your sense of fun,
    that you are not bossy,
    and that you do not pull a gun
    when I say you sing like Ozzy.
    I’m grateful for the care you take,
    and all the tasks you tackle
    even though when you awake
    you look just like Chewbacca.
    I’m grateful for your patience;
    to me you are so kind!
    And you make it all make sense,
    the saying, “Love is blind”,
    for it’s best not to see
    this wild and crazy side of me.

    Like

  2. Grateful says:
    February 24, 2020 at 10:43 am

    I needed this. I have been struggling and felt far away from my wife. I have been upset because I haven’t felt appreciated when I feel that I do so much. But then someone asked me how much appreciation do you show? I do think that I try to say thank you and so on but I haven’t been thanking God for my wife and I have noticed how bitterness has started to form in my heart. I have now decided that I need to start thanking God for my wife everyday. And be specific about the things she does. I hope that will help me not fall into bitterness and instead appreciate the awesome woman God has given me.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Debi Walter says:
      February 24, 2020 at 12:12 pm

      Yes!! We recommend that you both read Gary Thomas’ book, Cherish. It has helped us focus on the good in our spouse rather than what we may see as lacking. We pray this will help you as it has us and the many couples we care for in our church.
      Thank you for commenting.
      Blessings,
      Debi

      Like

  3. Vickie Bale says:
    February 24, 2020 at 11:34 am

    Happy 41st Anniversary to you and Tom. We’ll be celebrating our 41st in July and I’m so incredibly thankful for my husband. Looking forward to growing old(er) together.

    Like

  4. Anonymous says:
    February 25, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Happy Anniversary! We are so blessed to be able to watch and learn from your experiences together as a husband and wife. You are a blessing to us, and to so many. We pray God makes His loving presence known to both of you in a special way on this beautiful day of celebration. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! We thank God that He brought you together and He introduced you into our lives. We pray this is a wonderful day for you! You deserve it 🙂

    Like

  5. Renel says:
    February 27, 2020 at 7:15 am

    Beautiful reminder. Happy anniversary! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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