My husband and I got married when we were just 19 years old. Over the years, especially in the first couple of years of marriage, we received a lot of advice. Some advice was good, some not so good. These are the tips we have found work really well for our marriage, but of course you need to figure out what works well for yours!
1. Communicate
One of my favorite things to do is just sit and talk with my husband. It can be easy to get caught up in the busyness of day to day life and not really talk to your spouse. Ask them about how their day went and take interest in the things going on in their life. Communication is so important with tough conversations too. If something is bothering you, don’t let it bottle up, but talk to your partner about it.
2. Put each other first.
Your spouse should even come before your children. Your kids are only at home for a season and when they move out, your spouse will be the one there. Putting your spouse first doesn’t diminish the love you have for your children, but ultimately they will benefit for their parents having a happy, strong marriage.
3. It is okay to go to bed angry, but don’t let conflict go unresolved.
For my husband and I, we typically are able to talk things out after letting an argument settle for a little bit. For others, it may be better to wait until the next day to talk things out to come back to it fresh. Do what works for you and your spouse. Don’t let a conflict turn into a bigger one by not talking it out- but know it is also okay to let something go if it is no longer a big deal.
4. Never stop dating.
It is important to make time to spend with each other. Get dressed up and go out on a date or maybe take turns planning a date to go on and have it be a surprise for your spouse. This is especially important after you have kids. Keep date nights a priority-because it is easy to put marriage on the back burner when life is so busy.
5. Motivate and support each other.
Encourage your spouse to achieve their goals.
6. Practice forgiveness.
Every marriage has conflict and trials. Being able to forgive is essential for a healthy marriage.
- Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
7. Respect each other.
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people post negative things about their spouse on Facebook. Or, they will say things about, or to their spouse that they would never say about anyone else. Sometimes it is easiest to hurt the people we are closest to. Make it a priority to respect each other.
8. Pray for each other and with each other.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”
Thank you for reading!