We all have them; habits or routines that we do with little or no thought. Some are more meaningful than others. Compare drinking your morning coffee to brushing your teeth. Both are necessary, but morning coffee is a ritual all caffeine lovers anticipate with joy, while brushing your teeth is a needed routine.

A ritual Tom and I share is our morning devotions. We read the same Bible plan separately but at the same time. We are then able to talk about what we’ve read. This is a fairly new one that started when Tom retired, and it has become one of our favorite morning rituals. Add some good coffee or strong tea and it’s perfect!

Rituals give room for connection in the busiest seasons of life.

One ritual that has been established the longest in our marriage is our weekly date night. (Again, once Tom retired everyday became a potential date day, and we love it.)

When our kids were home our date night was a necessary ritual to focus on just us.

I have a friend whose husband gave her flowers every Friday for years. He knew she loved fresh flowers so he made sure she had them. It became a ritual she anticipated.

Rituals are meaningful, routines are mundane.

Routines are necessary but not always enjoyed. Rituals bring deep satisfaction and are missed when they no longer occur.

What routines in your relationship can you turn into a ritual? Here’s a hint: What are some of your spouse’s favorite things or activities? How can you make these things happen more often?

Marriage begins with the ritual of exchanging our wedding vows.

“To love and to cherish until death do us part.”

Let’s purpose to take our vows to the next level by establishing some rituals unique to us. It will keep our relationship from becoming mundane, and we’ll make great memories along the way.