Monday, June 23 A man will leave his father and his mother and he will stick to his wife.​—Gen. 2:24.

[Áine]

Monday, June 23

A man will leave his father and his mother and he will stick to his wife.—Gen. 2:24.

 

What if you and your spouse do not enjoy spending time together? What can you do? Consider a campfire. It does not start blazing instantly. It needs to be fed slowly with progressively bigger pieces of wood. Similarly, why not start by spending just a few moments together each day? Make sure to do something that you both enjoy. (Jas. 3:18) By starting small, you may begin to rekindle your love. Respect is vital in a marriage. It is like the oxygen that allows a campfire to burn brightly. Without oxygen, a fire quickly goes out. Similarly, without respect, a couple will find that their love can quickly grow cold. On the other hand, a husband and wife who strive to show respect for each other are working to keep their love alive. Yet, bear in mind that it is, not a matter of whether you think that you show respect, but a matter of whether your spouse feels respected. w23.05 22 ¶9; 24 ¶14-15

[dljbsp]

What does respect feel like? And how can a husband or wife help their mate understand the difference between saying “I respect you” and making them feel it?

 

It might be when you speak without interrupting or correcting—just listening, not fixing. It might be when your opinions are asked for, not just tolerated. Or when your sensitivities and boundaries are acknowledged instead of brushed aside.

 

You feel respected when your work is noticed, your thoughts are weighed, and your emotions are treated with care—even when they’re hard to understand. It’s felt in quiet tone, not sharp replies. In being defended in public. In being given the benefit of the doubt instead of suspicion.

 

So if we want our spouse to understand what makes us feel respected, we can give them the gift of clarity. Not criticism, but examples: “When you asked what I thought before making that decision, I felt safe and valued.” Or, “When you stood up for me at dinner, it reminded me that we’re a team.”

 

These are not just gestures. They are signals of loyalty—the kind that keep the fire alive. And the more they are expressed, the more they become mutual.