The Priceless Value of Valuing Your Spouse

Honor One Another (Especially Your Spouse!)

Marriage is a gift! To live your life with a companion that you’ve chosen is a treasured gift, and one to cherish and nurture. Yet, in the busyness of everyday life, it's easy to take for granted the gift that is marriage and the person we married. We can overlook the significance of honoring our partners.

The truth is, appreciating and honoring our spouses is not just a nice phrase we say in our wedding vows,  but honoring our spouses is an imperative element of a fulfilling and lasting relationship. In this blog, we will look into the value of honoring your spouse and why it's essential for a healthy marriage.

How to Respect Your Spouse

Respect forms the bedrock of any healthy relationship, especially marriage. Honoring your spouse inherently involves respecting their thoughts, feelings, and autonomy. It means acknowledging their perspectives, even when they differ from your own, and treating them with dignity at all times. Philippians 2:3, says, “Regard one another as more important than yourselves.”

When honor permeates a marriage, it creates an environment where both partners feel safe to express themselves authentically. This mutual respect fosters trust and strengthens the emotional connection between you and your spouse.

Moreover, when you honor your partner, you set a powerful example for your children, demonstrating the importance of honoring each other. Respect is a choice and to honor is a choice.  Romans 12:10, says, “Give preference to one another in honor.”

The Solution to an Unhealthy Marriage

Couples will often seek out counseling because they’ve established unhealthy patterns of devaluing or dishonoring one another. Often, the ratio of positive to negative interactions is low. The solution? Gratitude. Gratitude has the remarkable ability to transform our outlook on life and our marriages.

When we consciously appreciate our spouses for who they are and how they enhance our lives, it deepens our affection and strengthens the marital bond. Here’s a great exercise to do with your spouse: choose two ways that you can value or honor your spouse today.

For example, use basic courtesies like, please and thank you. When you notice your spouse doing something that you appreciate, make sure to express your appreciation. It doesn’t have to be an expensive or grand gesture. Perhaps a loving note of appreciation laid on their pillow would brighten their day. Another great exercise is to reflect on the qualities you admire in your spouse. This can remind you of the countless reasons you chose to spend your life with them which then can enrich the emotional attachment you both share.

The Importance of Quality Time

Time has become one of our most precious commodities in today's fast-paced world. It is the one thing we can steward. Yet, amid the demands of work, family, and other commitments, couples often struggle to carve out quality time for each other. However, investing in shared experiences is vital for maintaining a strong marital connection.

Cultivating Communication in Your Marriage

Setting aside time for your spouse honors them and communicates that you value them. Taking walks, riding your bikes, just holding hands while you watch a movie, cooking a meal together, or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, these shared experiences create lasting memories and reinforce the emotional bond between partners.

Our words can peirce our spouse’s heart and cut them to their core or our words can lift and affirm them. Valuing your spouse involves not only listening to what they have to say but also actively engaging in open, honest, and respectful dialogue.

Communication requires both partners to express their thoughts and emotions while also honoring their spouse's perspective. A culture of honor within your marriage cultivates open communication where couples can navigate challenges more effectively, resolve conflicts amicably, and strengthen their connection through meaningful conversations.

Life is hard. It’s rife with its share of challenges, from financial setbacks to health crises and everything in between. However, when couples face adversity together, it can strengthen their resilience and deepen their bond. Valuing your spouse means being a steadfast source of support during life's storms, offering unwavering love, compassion, and understanding. By standing by each other's side through thick and thin, couples demonstrate their commitment to one another.

When we recognize the priceless value of our spouses and actively invest in honoring and cherishing them, we lay the groundwork for a fulfilling and enduring relationship that stands the test of time. So let us never forget to celebrate the extraordinary gift of love and companionship that our spouses bring into our lives each day.

With Love and Encouragement,

Julia Mateer