Author Gary Thomas thought he had a pretty good marriage. Then God reminded him of the pledge he’d made to his wife at their wedding, a pledge you probably made as well if you used traditional vows.
It’s this: “I promise to love and to cherish you until death do us part.” Gary now admits that the moment he said those words at the altar was the last time he considered the word “cherish” in terms of his marriage.
Thirty-six years later, God challenged him to understand what it really meant to cherish his wife. That journey lifted their marriage to an entirely new level of delight.
Gary says, “Love is the bread of a marriage – sacrifice, service, loyalty, and commitment. Cherish is the jam – it’s what makes the bread delicious.”
The big difference between loving and cherishing is that love focuses you on your obligations to your spouse. Cherish focuses you on the beauty, the excellence, and the wonder of your spouse.
In a recorded talk on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Cherishing Your Spouse Every Day,” Gary Thomas shares three simple tips:
- Remember the promise you made before God in your wedding vows.
- Don’t compare your spouse to other people.
- Have an exclusive attitude. Renew your commitment to treat your spouse like he or she is the one.
For most of us, loving our spouse is easy, but cherishing him or her is more difficult. Gary shares how cherishing your spouse can improve your marriage and invigorate your relationship. Tune in for his full talk on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.
And check out Gary’s book Cherish: The One Word that Changes Everything for Your Marriage, available for a gift of any amount. For more information, visit our website.
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Pandit Venkatesh says
– Be a good listener, Parenting advice
Suzy Scott says
-I signed up for the 5 part series on CHERISH and sent a 50.00 donation to Focus on the Family. I received my hardcover book but have not received my video series in my emails. Can you please check on this for me. Thank you.