Wives need consistent proof of change over a period of time in at least three areas before they will believe their husband's commitment: careful listening without justification or argument, quickness to admit error, and patience with her doubts

Small Acts of Touching

Wise husbands and wives will take time to practice small acts of touching: Holding hands in a walk through the mall, stopping to rub your mate's shoulders for a moment, taking the time to gently hold your spouse at the door on your way out. These small but important acts can work like 'superbloom' to a plant and green out a relationship

Gardener

A gardener--nurturer--has a responsibility not only to find out what's wrong with a plant, but also to do whatever is necessary to nurse it back to health. In Ephesians 5:21-33, we see this picture as a role of the husband

temperaments

Clearly understanding our God-given temperaments brings to light common causes of family disharmony, provides handles for resolving long-standing friction in the home, dramatically increases our feelings of value for our loved ones and friends, and gives additional reasons to honor God

Gentleness

Gentleness (a willingness to decrease our lectures and increase our tender expressions of love) is a key to marital growth. Tenderness acts like a firebreak to an advancing, angry forest fire

Protection

A woman loves to build a lasting relationship with a man who cares about her enough to let her lean on him when she needs comfort. She needs a man who will understand her fears and limitations so that he can protect her.

Closed spirit

The buildup of unresolved anger results in a closed spirit. Selfish anger is the negative emotion we feel when a person or situation has failed to meet our needs, blocked our goals, or fallen short of our expectations. If you are constantly dishonoring your spouse for one reason or another, that will usually close his or her spirit

Communication

Communication is the single most effective way to deepen intimacy in any relationship, whether it's with your mate, family, friends, or on the job. Just as food is essential to a healthy body, intimate communication is essential to a healthy relationship

Conflict

Usually, by being soft, genuinely seeking to understand what happened, admitting when we're wrong, and specifically asking for forgiveness, we can see anger begin to drain away quickly in another

what a man needs

Every man needs to know that someone, somewhere in the world, cares about him. He needs to feel warm, friendly acceptance from a committed, intimate friend who will be devoted to him no matter what he does. In other words, just like you, your husband needs the security of genuine love

Worry

Whenever I feel fear or worry, I thank the Lord for the feeling, then test the following six reasons until I understand the source: the future, my reputation, money, possessions, time, or health. After that, I submit the concern to Him.

satisfaction

Many husbands and wives put their hopes for fulfillment in people or in places, whether homes or vacation spots. To those thirsting for fulfillment, these things look like a quenching pool of water. Yet once they reach them, they find only the sand of a mirage. Only Christ gives everlasting satisfaction

No Lecturing

Your goal should be to become a genuine, loving, and tender husband who does not lecture. Lectures during stressful times only create more stress

Trials

Sometimes the treasure is coated with corrosion, but if we do some scraping, we begin to see its value. Thanksgiving expresses our faith that God can, indeed, bring treasures out of trials, and faith adds muscle to the scraping process, even in the worst of trials

Discipline

The most insecure people are those who can't distance themselves from their loved ones enough to discipline them. Loving discipline may put a temporary emotional distance between people, but if we balance that hard-side correction with softness, we won't lose love. If anything, we'll enrich it

Have all you need

God's best and highest will is for us to love (value) Him with all our hearts, and to love (value) others as ourselves. Do you realize you have everything you need to fulfill God's will and experience His best in your life?

The Little Things

Wise husbands and wives will take time to practice small acts of touching: Holding hands in a walk through the mall, stopping to rub your mate's shoulders for a moment, taking the time to gently hold your spouse at the door on your way out. These small but important acts can work like 'superbloom' to a plant and green out a relationship

personal God

God truly modeled the principles of touching when Jesus walked the back trails and highways of planet earth. No longer could God be thought of as some distant, unconcerned deity in a far corner of infinity. He came, robed in warm, human flesh. And while He walked among us, He reached out His hands

Faith - Trials

We'll catch the true meaning of Christ's teaching on faith if we pay attention to how He helped distraught people through their trials. Many of us make the mistake of forgetting that Jesus promises to produce maturity, righteousness, and love by letting us go through trials

Treasuring

Treasuring is an attitude we carry in our hearts, a conviction we hold deep down inside. It's one big decision that plays itself out in 10,000 little decisions every day of our lives. This one giant choice to treasure your husband lights up a home like nothing else

Controling Tongue

God's grace is power in us to control our tongue, even in heated discussions with a spouse, but He only gives grace to the humble. If we humble ourselves in His presence, recognizing our complete dependence on Him, He will exalt us

security

Security means we're fully committed to the truth and make a decision daily to be open to correction. We build security into our relationship each time we speak the truth, go out of our way to encourage our spouse, listen without lecturing, or give him or her a gentle hug

Communication

A husband and wife need to establish a routine pattern of meaningful communication--times of sharing feelings, hopes, dreams, and fears. 'Weather report' comments like 'How's it going?' 'How was the traffic today?' and other safe questions aren't enough. Every day, spouses need to add the water of well-spoken words to keep their relationship strong and healthy

Gentleness

Gentleness (a willingness to decrease our lectures and increase our tender expressions of love) is a key to marital growth. Tenderness acts like a firebreak to an advancing, angry forest fire

When Hubby is down

When your husband is down, don't react with disgust as though he had lost his masculinity. Maintain the attitude that he's important