Respect

One definition of respect is “a sense of worth or excellence of a person.”  Respect is one of the foundation stones of establishing a successful marriage.  When a young couple marries they each need to have a sense of worth and a sense of excellence for their spouse.  This feeling translates into actions of love and kindness.

It is a blessing to watch couples who respect one another.  The husband opens the car door for his wife.  He speaks of her good traits and her accomplishments.  The wife praises her husband and supports him.  Even when they look at each other there is approval and love.

In contrast, it is sad and heart-wrenching to watch couples who do not have respect for one another.  They speak unkindly to each other in loud, angry voices.  They belittle one another in front of others.  They are unable to see the good in each other.  They have very little toleration for the imperfections of each other.  These actions cause spouses to suffer and can cause a marriage to end.

In order to keep a marriage strong, spouses must respect one another.  This can also bless their family.   As children see respectful interactions between their parents they can learn respect for their parents, their siblings, and for their future spouses.