RENEWING YOUR MARRIAGE
Every marriage can be likened to a house, that is why the Bible says in Proverbs14:1 ‘’the wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands’’. Every home requires intermittent maintenance to renew and prevent decay. At times the paint adorning the walls of a house fades; yet, upon repainting, the house is bestowed with a renewed essence. Every residence gathers dirt daily, thus necessitating daily cleaning. Certain household items, like upholstery, require occasional replacement. The main aim of all the above is to keep on renewing the house.
“To renew” signifies revitalizing to a state akin to newness: restoring freshness, vitality, or perfection, there is a need to rejuvenate our marriage from time to time to avoid boredom and to keep the fire of love aflame. One of the causes for couples experiencing boredom in their marriages after several years is the absence of novelty in their relationships.
The spark of love tends to fail with years because of challenges and old age. As a result, each couple must continuously seek avenues to invigorate their marital love. While numerous methods exist, the initial stride is acknowledging this reality, paving the way for contemplation and efforts toward rekindling. Some of the ways to spice up the love in our marriage for renewal are stated below:
INTENTIONAL LOVE.
Every relationship commences with emotional affection – the sight of two individuals of opposite genders meeting for the first time, swept away by feelings stirred by each other’s allure, attractiveness, spirituality, affluence, eloquence, and more. This emotional bond inevitably guides them to the altar, where they unite in matrimony. Yet, to ensure the longevity of the marriage, emotional love must evolve into intentional love. No matter the potency of emotional love, it alone cannot sustain a marriage. What perpetuates it is the act of consciously loving your partner day by day. Intentional love encompasses the affection you bestow upon your partner when loving them becomes challenging.
CONTINUOUS DATING.
Dating plays a pivotal role in nurturing courtship, yet it’s a practice that many couples abandon once they’re married. Paradoxically, this cessation severs a fundamental link that sustained their relationship’s foundation. Dating serves as a crucial element that adds zest to marriage relationships, infusing a youthful spirit regardless of age. To consistently invigorate a marriage, it’s imperative to maintain dating as an integral part of the couple’s routine.
COUPLES SHOULD PLAN
AND GO ON VACATION.
Every married couple should accord significance to spending holidays together. This single act dismantles the routine nature of daily life. The journey of the holiday commences with the planning phase, as the enthusiasm engendered fuels the anticipation. Hence, it’s imperative that the planning is a collaborative effort. This sort of holiday should be exclusively for the husband and wife, excluding the children. It need not be an extravagant or extended trip; the duration and budget should be determined according to the couple’s financial might.
INTENTIONAL TIME TOGETHER.
A truly wonderful approach to rejuvenating a marriage involves intentionally spending time with your partner on a regular basis. Regardless of the demands of your work schedule, it’s crucial for couples to allocate time for shared moments. I’m not referring solely to time spent addressing issues, but rather, time dedicated to expressing affection and engaging in open conversations within a relaxed setting. This practice nurtures a bond, reminiscent of the relationship between God, Adam, and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where God would come to commune with them. Similarly, in marriage, it’s vital to prioritize your partner’s attention over screens, be it handsets or TV displays. Minimizing screen time and elevating face-to-face interactions is essential.
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT DATES IN THE LIFE OF EACH OF THE COUPLE AND REMINISCE.
Each spouse’s birthday should not be allowed to slip by unnoticed; it’s considered a “sin” for either party to overlook the date. Even a modest celebration, like a birthday greeting card adorned with heartfelt words, holds significance. Additionally, commemorating special dates such as wedding anniversaries and other meaningful occasions contributes the essential essence
that infuses vibrancy into marriage.
REPLICATING THE SAME LOVE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE COUPLE DURING COURTSHIP.
During courtship, couples experience unique emotions; some find it challenging to retire for the night without hearing their fiancé’s voice, while for others, the simple act of holding hands and being seen together in public is a source of immense delight. Reviving these cherished gestures is essential for couples seeking to rejuvenate their marriage.
ALWAYS LOOK GOOD FOR YOUR PARTNER
After childbirth, many wives often experience a shift in their dressing style. It’s commonplace to observe them donning wraps around the house, which can inadvertently lead husbands to perceive them more as mothers rather than partners after years of marriage. It’s important for every woman to recognize that men are greatly influenced by visual cues. Consequently, wives should dress in a manner that maintains the allure of the bride their husbands married years ago, particularly within the confines of their home.
Similarly, husbands, your wives still desire to see the same six-pack physique that initially captured her heart on the day you met, rather than a protruding belly. It’s our responsibility to make every effort to stay physically fit and maintain an attractive appearance for our wives.
In conclusion, it’s crucial for all husbands to recognize that if their wives are exhibiting behavior akin to that of the devil, it’s probable that an environment reminiscent of hell has been fostered within their home. Hence, a revival of love is imperative. On the other hand, wives should acknowledge that if their husbands are demonstrating angelic behavior, it’s likely due to the presence of a heavenly atmosphere they have nurtured at home. It’s important to fortify
this positive dynamic.
