One of the critical things to develop in a marriage is a sense of emotional safety and securityin the relationship. A good way of doing this is by frequently expressing love in tangible ways. Here are some suggestions.
Touch them - prefer your spouse, sit next to them, hold hands, hug, touch them as you walk by, make love, snuggle, take a bath together, take dance lessons, do anything that requires a certain amount of touch ...
Spend time with them - find common interests, make dates, travel together, minister together, pray and study together, shop together, go for walks ...
Talk to them - say something nice or kind, make a point of sharing your day, learn something new everyday and share it, compliment them, read to each other, verbally encourage them in pursuing their dreams, say "I love you" a lot...
Do something for them - polish their shoes, pick up after the children (even if it's not your job), change a diaper, look for something practical to do that will bless your spouse ...
Give them something special - It might be something practical that they need or something foolish and romantic - a book, a handful of flowers, a mushy note or card (or a silly one, or a sexy one) ...
As an aside, you might listen carefully to your spouse. Listen to what they ask for. Listen to what impresses them about others. This will give you a clue as to what they want and need in terms of loving expressions.
If I ... do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal ...I am nothing ... it profits me nothing ... 1 Cor. 13:1-2
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Cor. 13:4-8a
Touch them - prefer your spouse, sit next to them, hold hands, hug, touch them as you walk by, make love, snuggle, take a bath together, take dance lessons, do anything that requires a certain amount of touch ...
Spend time with them - find common interests, make dates, travel together, minister together, pray and study together, shop together, go for walks ...
Talk to them - say something nice or kind, make a point of sharing your day, learn something new everyday and share it, compliment them, read to each other, verbally encourage them in pursuing their dreams, say "I love you" a lot...
Do something for them - polish their shoes, pick up after the children (even if it's not your job), change a diaper, look for something practical to do that will bless your spouse ...
Give them something special - It might be something practical that they need or something foolish and romantic - a book, a handful of flowers, a mushy note or card (or a silly one, or a sexy one) ...
As an aside, you might listen carefully to your spouse. Listen to what they ask for. Listen to what impresses them about others. This will give you a clue as to what they want and need in terms of loving expressions.
If I ... do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal ...I am nothing ... it profits me nothing ... 1 Cor. 13:1-2
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Cor. 13:4-8a
