What Does It Look Like? - Marriage Partnership (Part Trois)

What Does It Look Like? - Marriage Partnership (Part Trois)

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. —Maya Angelou

AS I VISITED with my traveling companion, she admitted that, not only had her husband degraded her, she had not so kindly returned the favor.

My question for you is, how do you make your husband feel by the tone of your voice, the content of your words, and your day-to-day interactions with him?

Do you bark commands—“Close the door!”—making him feel like a child?

Do you give him the cold shoulder, making him feel that he’s not loved?

Do you make decisions without his input, making him feel like a second-rate citizen of the family?

Do you repeatedly cut him off—“Shut up!”—making him feel that his opinion or comments are not valued?

Do you withhold sex, making him feel that he is loved and cared for only conditionally?

Do you mock him, correct him, or ridicule him in front of others, making him feel embarrassed?

Now on the flip side: based on his tone, words, and day-to-day interactions with you, how do you allow him to make you feel?

When he gives you the silent treatment, do you feel unloved, or do you turn on your favorite rock ’n’ roll to reset a good vibe in the house?

When he is rude to your sister, do you seethe, or do you provide him with the scenario of how he would feel if you treated his family the same way?

When he makes decisions without your input, do you get your feelings hurt, or do you immediately take the opportunity to weigh in on the decision?

When he tells you to “shut up”—do you? Or do you explain that you are his marriage partner and refuse to be spoken to that way and in that tone?

When he withholds sex . . . never mind, that will never happen.

When he mocks or corrects you, do you wallow in the hurt, or do you calmly confront the issue?

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. (2 Timothy 2:24)

How do you make your husband feel? And how do you allow him to make you feel? When one of you has passed on, all the things said and done will fade away. All you will remember is how the other person made you feel.