One Thing to Grow Your Marriage Each DaySýnishorn

Don’t neglect “like” in love

Devotional Content: 

Is there a benefit in saying to your spouse “I like you” in addition to “I love you?” I know at times there are things I do that Nancy does not. When I tease her, for example, there’s a 50/50 chance she won’t like it—a lot depends on how far I take it, though! We all can probably think of things we don’t especially like about our spouse. 

This is my take: I knew pretty early in my relationship with Nancy that I could really love this woman. I can’t remember anything I did not like about her during those early stages of our relationship. As we dated for two years, we learned a lot more about each other—and not everything was particularly likable. There were a few things I didn’t like but a whole lot of things I really liked. Then I asked her to marry me. I made a choice to embrace all of her and spend the rest of my life with her. God has used our marriage to refine us over the years into more of who He designed us to be. Marriage can do that! Nancy often tells me she loves me, and I’ve never doubted her love for me; but when she says she really likes me, that is something special. I want her to like me, and I want her to know that I like her. It puts a positive focus on each of us and our marriage.

Today’s One Thing: Tell your spouse you really like them!