The Foundation of Marriage

Whether you’re newly married or have been together for 50 years, it’s easy to lose sight of the reasons you fell in love in the first place.

Marriage is a profound commitment that goes beyond romantic feelings and shared interests. At its core, marriage is a partnership that thrives on mutual respect, trust, communication, and love. To build a strong foundation for your marriage, it is essential to understand what makes it work and continuously nurture the relationship. While no two marriages are identical, successful couples share common traits that help them navigate the ups and downs of life together.

Here are some reminders to help you rekindle the bonds of your marriage. Reflect on what initially drew you to your partner and why you chose to marry them. By doing so, you’ll rediscover the love that brought you together.

The very fact that you’re reading this shows your commitment to strengthening your marriage even more. Marriage is built on several key pillars that support a strong, enduring relationship:

1. Communication: Is the cornerstone of a healthy, thriving marriage. Open, honest, and respectful communication helps couples understand each other’s needs, feelings, and perspectives. Remember to say please, thank you, and sorry when the situation calls for it.

2. Trust: Trust is essential for a stable, secure relationship. It involves believing in each other’s honesty, reliability, and faithfulness. Transparent communication builds trust. When partners are honest and open with each other, it fosters an environment where trust can flourish. This trust is crucial for the stability and security of the relationship.
3. Commitment: A firm commitment to the relationship means being dedicated to working through challenges and growing together.
4. Love and Intimacy: At its core, love is the driving force that brings two people together and sustains their commitment. Intimacy includes affection verbally and physically. Sharing your innermost thoughts and feelings with your partner builds emotional intimacy. It creates a safe space where both individuals feel valued, heard, and supported, leading to a stronger emotional connection.
5. Respect: Mutual respect involves recognizing each other’s individuality, values, and boundaries, and treating each other with dignity.
6. Compromise: Marriage requires a willingness to find common ground and make compromises for the benefit of the partnership.
7. Support: Emotional, physical, and financial support helps couples navigate life’s ups and downs together.
8. Shared Values and Goals: Having aligned values, goals, and aspirations. This helps couples build a shared vision for their future.

Strengthening your marriage is an ongoing journey that requires effort, commitment, and love.

20 ways to Strengthen Your Marriage

Prioritize Quality Time

Spend meaningful time together, free from distractions, to deepen your connection.

Communicate Openly

Share your thoughts, feelings, and dreams with each other regularly.

Show Appreciation

Express gratitude for the little things your partner does.

Practice Forgiveness

Let go of grudges and work through conflicts with a forgiving heart.

Support Each Other’s Goals

Encourage and support each other’s personal and professional aspirations.

Maintain Physical Affection

Hug, kiss, and hold hands to keep the physical connection strong.

Date Night

Regularly plan date nights to keep the romance alive.

Laugh Together

Share jokes, watch comedies, and enjoy moments of laughter.

Set Shared Goals

Work together on shared goals and projects to foster teamwork.

Be Patient

Practice patience and understanding, especially during challenging times.

Surprise Each Other

Plan small surprises to show your love and thoughtfulness.

Keep Learning

Take interest in each other’s hobbies and learn new things together.

Stay Loyal

Cultivate trust and loyalty by being honest and dependable.

Express Love

Regularly say “I love you” and show your affection in various ways.

Work as a Team

Approach challenges and decisions as a united front.

Respect Boundaries

Respect each other’s personal space and boundaries.

Communicate Needs

Clearly express your needs and ask your partner to do the same.

Celebrate Milestones

Celebrate anniversaries, achievements, and special moments together.

Seek Help When Needed

Seek professional help if needed, such as counseling.

Reflect and Grow

Regularly reflect on your relationship and work together to grow and improve.

15 Ways to Make your Spouse Feel Appreciated

1. Express Gratitude: Regularly acknowledge and thank your spouse for their efforts and contributions.
2. Show Physical Affection: Hug, kiss, and hold hands to maintain a strong physical connection.
3. Plan Special Dates: Organize date nights or activities that your spouse enjoys.

4. Give Thoughtful Gifts: Surprise your spouse with gifts that reflect their interests and preferences.
5. Cook Their Favorite Meal: Prepare their favorite dishes or plan a special dinner.
6. Support Their Interests: Show interest in their hobbies and support their passions.
7. Spend Quality Time Together: Dedicate time to do things together that they enjoy.
8. Listen Actively: Pay attention and listen when they talk about their thoughts and feelings.
9. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and achievements.
10. Write Notes: Leave sweet notes or messages to remind them of your love.

11. Respect Their Space: Give them the personal space they need and respect their boundaries.
12. Encourage and Support: Be their biggest cheerleader in their personal and professional endeavors.
13. Be Patient and Understanding: Practice patience and understanding, especially during challenging times.
14. Help with Chores: Take initiative and help with household chores without being asked.
15. Apologize Sincerely: If you make a mistake, apologize sincerely and make amends.

My Story

Like many of you, my late husband and I shared an extraordinary marriage filled with wonderful memories, love, and joy. However, we also faced moments when we just weren’t connecting as we once did. I wanted to attend therapy to address our issues, but he was hesitant. Through open communication, we discovered the underlying problems. Despite the challenges, we reaffirmed our love for each other.

Compromise and communication were areas we needed to improve. Ultimately, we aligned and strengthened our marriage even more. We learned that we were both evolving for the better within our relationship. The key was accepting and embracing the changes in each other, which allowed our bond to grow even deeper.