5 Ways to Show Your Partner You Careনমুনা

James 1:19-20

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Whether you’ve been on a few great dates or are ready to take a new relationship to the next level, it’s important to show your significant other that you care. Fortunately, the Bible has much to say about ways to show you love, respect, and cherish someone. It starts with mastering the art of communication.

If we’re being honest, we’ve all done it: had a half-hearted conversation with someone while scrolling on our phone or reading a text or watching TV.

Or we’ve been so invested in a conversation that we have our next line ready before the other person is even done talking, often interrupting them instead of truly listening.

It can be hard to focus on anything else when our devices constantly demand our attention. And it can be challenging to refrain from interrupting someone, especially during a passionate conversation. But learning to listen intently and speak slowly is important to show your significant other you care about them.

Be Quick to Listen

Being quick to listen is vital to maintain a healthy connection with your significant other. One of the best ways to really focus on what your partner is saying and show you genuinely care about the conversation is to put away any potential distractions, such as phones and laptops, and make eye contact.

Eye contact shows the other person you’re interested in what they’re saying and helps them feel heard. An additional benefit of avoiding any form of distraction while listening is that it allows both parties enough time to think before they respond, preventing hurtful or heated reactions that could damage even the strongest of relationships.

Be Slow to Speak

Listening intently to understand rather than respond is the single most effective way to be slow to speak. When you truly listen with an open heart, you can connect better to what is being communicated and gain a more in-depth understanding of where the other person is coming from. This can help you craft a meaningful response rather than just reacting out of emotion or personal bias.

Truly listening also shows respect and lets the other person know you value them. With intention and practice, you can become a better listener and, consequently, a better speaker by slowing down enough to listen before responding.

Be Slow to Become Angry

Not all conversations are simple or pleasant in a relationship. Sometimes you’ll have to talk about hard, challenging topics, and it’s easy to become defensive or frustrated. The best way to be slow to become angry is to practice the other keys to communication: listening intently to truly understand before speaking.

People often make the mistake of interjecting and offering suggestions while another person is still talking, assuming they understand what the other person is trying to say. This can not only be intrusive and disrespectful, but it can also lead to misunderstandings and arguments. It's best to stay engaged in conversations but allow the other person space to talk by taking pauses and allowing a few breaths for them to continue. If you have an idea about what the other person might say, wait until after they've finished speaking before you offer your input.

Following James’ instructions to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry will help show your partner you care about them and strengthen your relationship.