Do you have a goal for your marriage?
Hopefully, your answer is a little more inspiring than, “To stay married.”
Sadly, that’s about as enthusiastic as many couples get about their relationship. They haven’t discovered a greater purpose for their lives together. And let’s face it, it’s hard to find happiness with your spouse if life has become an endless string of mundane days.
Wives, in particular, usually feel happier if they know their relationship is growing deeper, more intimate, and more romantic. So how can a couple create some movement in their marriage and achieve greater happiness than they currently have?
My wife and I tend to discuss our relationship in terms of a theme. It could be “forgiveness,” or “grace,” or maybe “patience.” Then we try to weave that theme into every part of our marriage. So not only will we actually try to be more patient with each other, but we make it part of our conversation with one another for that season of life.
Sometimes all it takes to infuse your marriage with a little more happiness is a few small changes. Find ways to keep your interest in each other alive. Read a book or watch a movie you can discuss afterward. Have a common goal, like saving for that dream vacation.
And remember the acronym H.A.P.P.Y. That’s an easy-to-remember guide author Arlene Pellicane uses to help women develop greater happiness as wives.
H stands for hopeful. Wives find happiness when they place their hope in God, not their marriage or their circumstances.
A is for adaptability. When circumstances don’t go their way, happy wives stay calm and seek a solution to the problem.
P is for purposeful. Wives are happiest when they know their purpose. They have goals and a sense of direction.
The other P stands for positive. That doesn’t mean they have to bounce around like Tigger. It just means they have a grateful attitude.
And the Y may be the most challenging. It refers to yielding to God and allowing their husbands to be the spiritual leader of the home.
Arlene was a guest on our program a few weeks ago to talk about what women can do to have a husband who’s optimistic, who loves life, who’s content, and who enjoys being a husband. She’s back with us today to share in practical terms how to work her concept of H.A.P.P.Y. into your everyday life.
I think you’ll find our conversation, “Finding Contentment and Happiness as a Wife,” helpful. By the end, I believe you’ll have a good grasp of how to create a deeper happiness in your marriage that’s enduring and joyful.
Join us, won’t you? Find the broadcast on your local radio station, or via our free, downloadable mobile phone app.
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