I copied these from a Christian fiction book series that I really enjoyed reading, I found them to be an awesome reminder for everyday - it's up in my kitchen.1. God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out, is serving.
2. Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you’d lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share a hobby – find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down while you` are angry.” Make it a habit to forgive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn about the love languages. Not all people show or receive it the same way. They are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it’s in the language that person speaks.
9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.
10. Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up. Confident men do not seek love outside the home.
This is also up in my kitchen - when I want to gripe about how my husband is not "measuring up" - I read this, and ask myself if I am.
Proverbs 31 (Amplified Bible)
A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].
She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.
She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.
She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. S
he fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.
She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].
Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.
Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!
*If you really want a challenge, try reading it in the Message Bible.
Anyways, those are some of the tips I use on a regular basis, they are as I mentioned, posted in my kitchen so I can read them time and again, and hopefully walk in them as I mature in grace :)
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