2020 Marriage Challenge Day 11

Day 11 of the 28-Day Marriage Challenge

Day 11: Love Listens

In the article The Definitive Indicator of a Healthy Relationship, I make the point that love is most often expressed through the ear. When couples intentionally love each other, they listen to one another. Yet as intention begins to fade, the first sign is often an unrealized loss in attention--specifcally attention to what our partner is saying.Love listens. But we often assume. Rather than truly hearing our spouse, we assume we already know their opinion, belief, and response. And in part, we might. The longer we are married the better we should know the other person. However, longetivity in marriage should also teach us that we are continually changing and that our spouse is a complex person with opinions and ideas of their own which can change over time.Love should compel us to listen. We should so value our spouse that we intentionally give them our ear, before we assume to know their response. Rather than just believing we know their desires, we ask. We question. We hear. We follow-up. We seek to understand. As long as we are listening to one another, there are very few things which can hinder our relationship. Yet the moment we stop listening, we are in great danger on a variety of fronts.Love listens.            Application: Ask your spouse, "Is there any issue where you feel unheard by me?" Don't debate their answers or argue your point. Listen and consider.         For more, see:How to Get Your Man to ListenHow to Make Your Wife Feel Heard