“Give until it hurts. And then give a little more. The key to a happy marriage is not 50/50. It’s 100 percent ON YOUR PART.”
This is so very true and I know that I’ve had my moments of keeping score. But I don’t walk away feeling better after I’ve shared this with my husband; I feel so selfish. Thanks for the reminder of respecting our husband’s, too. Great post!

I couldn’t ask for a better marriage or husband. I’m so blessed that God designed him for me. Oh, it’s not always easy, we have our rows, but we honor each other by putting God the head of our home. Couples have to realize you must choose to love your spouse everyday. EVERYDAY. Wake up in the morning and choose to love him, even if you don’t want to. Honor God by choosing to love your dh EVERYDAY. Thank God everyday for giving your husband to you, even if you don’t like him at a particular time. Thank God for him and pray for him. When you pray for your dh to change, it’s really our hearts that God changes and we are better equipped to be better spouses to our husbands. Another thought….do not judge your dh but respect him. Just some points to ponder from someone who has been married for 16 years and in it for the duration!!!

wow, the “don’t keep score” part was really what I needed to hear.  I am always keeping a mental list of things I could do, in case my husband complains or refuses to help (which he NEVER does) so I can say “how could you!  Do you want to know all the things I did today??”  Boy is that not helpful.  Thanks, Rachel, I will make an effort to work on this one.

Thank you for the excellent reminders!  But that said, a few “sparks” are kinda nice for Valentine’s Day….I’m wondering if anyone has some ideas to share—do you have plans for the 14th?  I’d like to do something “extra” for my husband that day, but am drawing blanks for ideas.  Some of the better things we’ve done for the day in the past have included our kids.  They thought it was cool to go to dinner with us, etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Red wine and crab dip does sound yummy

Thank you so much for your words today.  The part about “not keeping score” are words I need to hear again and again.  My husband works his tail off everyday for us and I have been trying to pray and pray that I can be the best wife I can be for him everyday and serve him the best I can. I love ““what can I do to make my spouse’s life better today?” I totally want to implement that everyday.  I also love it’s not about 50/50 but me giving 100% of myself everyday.  I so needed to hear that and thank you!  My endurance is running low after 2 days and evenings of having all 4 children (3 and under) by myself because of my husband’s job.  I could feel my patience wearing very thin around dinner time but the rest of the evening went smooth and my two big kids (3.5 and 2) were such big helpers tonight.  I am so blessed!  Thank you God for my beautiful family!

Your wonderful article on ‘Have a happy marriage’ was forwarded to me by my father. Truly, all those ways will definitely keep the love deepening as the years go by. I’d like to comment specifically on “...talk by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs, based on his book Love and Respect. The book spells out a very basic premise: men want to be respected, women want to be loved.” The credit for those words should go to St. Paul who in his letters to the Ephesians 5:33 wrote, “So again I say, a man must love his wife as a part of himself; and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband-obeying, praising and honouring him.” Ages ago itself these words of advice for husbands and wife, for children, for parents,... are all there in our holy Bible.