Does a Better Marriage Have to Be So Complicated?
By Audrey Castro
There’s nothing more daunting than seeing a list of things I should be doing to improve my marriage. Some days I feel like I’m doing good just to keep our family fed, dressed. Alive.
I don’t need 10-15 more things I should be doing on top of that. I’m really good with Mediocre Wife of the Year at this point.
Kidding. Sort of.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I do want to know my husband better. I want to serve him in new ways. I want to grow in our oneness. I want to improve our marriage. I just need it to be simple.
That’s why something I heard from a Weekend to Remember® speaker struck me. He described how every day, his wife asks him one question: “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
Hmmmm, I thought. That’s easy. I like it.
He described how much it meant to him and the difference it made in their marriage. So I decided to give it a try.
My husband and I work together. So every day it was easy for me to message him and ask, “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
What followed surprised me.
My husband opened up to me in ways he never had before. He gave me specific ways to pray for him. He let me know what was going on in his heart and mind.
Just asking that simple question checked off all the boxes that a list of 10-15 new habits would have. I understood my husband better. I learned how to serve him in unexpected ways. We grew in togetherness. Our marriage improved.
What could asking this do for your marriage? Try it! You don’t have much to lose. But you’ll have a lot to gain.
Here are a few more tips for improving communication in your marriage.
The Good Stuff: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19)
Action Points: Ask your spouse this simple question every day: “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
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