There are many things we need to be intentional about. Some of these we take for granted. One thing of utmost importance is being intentional about our relation with Jesus. Another is being intentional about our relation with our spouse.
It is so easy to take our marriage for granted and neglect the expressing of our love. You know love should grow, but it also can die. Love is like a garden, we have to pull up the weeds that tend to choke it out. We need to constantly search for ways to enhance love and make it more meaningful. My father loved me, but he never expressed it. I don't think he knew how. Sometimes we have to consciously think about ways to express our love. I find this very easy.
We need to tell our spouse we love them and we need to express that love in many ways. I have this thing of writing a love note on a paper towel and leaving it on the counter as I leave for work. We have pet names we call each other even in the presence of friends. Surprising him or her with a card or flowers is a way to weed the garden and help love grow. Expressing one's love to one's spouse publicaly is important and that indicates to others that love is still blooming.
Sexual relations is an important part of marriage and that changes as years go by. Since my surgery that has changed for us, but that has not changed our love for each other.
Now to say that things are always rosy is not true. Dubbye and I are both strong willed and we disagree and sometimes get mad, but underneath the anger is a deep abiding love that has developed over 20 years. She is so much a part of my life that we often are thinking about the same thing at the same time. I often look for her in the church service because she sits in different places.
I urge you to think about meaningful ways you can express your love to your spouse. This is God's will for you. Grow old together and allow nothing to interfer with that one to whom you have promised to love and cherish until death parts you.
~I love you, Bro. Joe