Men, your wife needs regular reassurance of your love as a husband. This is not because she is weak or needy, but simply because she is human and wired to be loved in a variety of ways.
Don’t forget—Valentine’s Day is this week (hint, hint). Here are 5 words that spell love to your wife.
1. Time
Even if your wife’s primary love language is not quality time, that doesn’t let you off the hook on this one :). Just like healthy families, healthy marriages are built upon quality time spent together — time when the rest of the world can be shut off and shut out, and the two of you can exclusively prioritize one another.
2. Focus
How many times have I been listening to her words and even looking her in the eyes… and still been mentally a million miles away? Too many to count. Sometimes, truly making my wife feel loved is as simple as being genuinely present in the moment and not just listening to her words, but understanding her heart. My eyes-locked, heart-open, phone-free, undivided attention can be a gift of love that she needs regularly.
3. Words
You may have heard of the guy who said, “I don’t say ‘I love you’ to my wife. I told her that on our wedding day, and if it ever changes, I’ll let her know.” This may be humorous, but it’s not healthy. Your wife needs to hear you say the words “I love you” often, along with many other loving compliments and encouragements.
4. Action
Someone wisely said, “If a person’s words and actions don’t agree, always believe their actions.” This is so true. But why? Because actions speak louder than words. Doing things for our wives that we know matter to them is far more meaningful than just saying things to our wives that are easy for us.
5. Concern
Marriage allows us to sympathize and empathize with our wife and her struggles on a deeper level than anyone else in her life. Asking questions like, “What’s it like to live on the other side of me?” or “Are you feeling noticed?” can be simple ways to show concern and make sure she is feeling both seen and heard.
As a parent, how could these five words practically spell love to your kids as well?
** Men, one more question, how are you doing at handling the 5 biggest marriage stress points? Thanks for reading to the end—Here’s a free marriage checklist to help.
