by Katie
I believe there is an extra measure of joy that we feel ourselves when we take the time to express our appreciation. Dare I say that we create a stronger emotional bond to those we express gratitude toward?
For this reason I believe that the third Law of Attraction that Ramona talks about in Wife for Life, APPRECIATION, is so important. We want more than a contract-like relationship in our marriage where a “If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of attitude presides. We want the kind of relationship where we truly desire the happiness of our partner.
Is it not important then to be able to receive graciously and to express our gratitude for that which we receive? Of course it is! When we sincerely say “thank you”, our husband or significant other will know that they are succeeding at their mission to please us and to make us happy and they will want to continue doing whatever is necessary to help us to stay happy!
I had an experience this past Saturday that was a reminder for me that I need to be more conscientious about voicing the gratitude I feel…
A school paper loomed over my head, and I knew that Saturday would be the best time to get that paper written before it was due Tuesday. Unfortunately, I came down with a fever: a spring-kind-of-cleaning (fall cleaning?) fever that mysteriously appears when you have some other dreaded project pressing for your attention. I let my husband know that I was feeling anxious and that having a clean house would actually help clear my mind.
He proceeded to “order” me to stop cleaning and began to vacuum, do dishes, and run errands. Even though I knew he’d rather be enjoying a relaxing Saturday, he remained at my beck and call. This went so far that, when I needed breaks, he watched TV with me for a few minutes and took me for a walk. He even went to a neighborhood activity to serve hot dogs. Because of this service, I was able to finish my paper before bedtime.
At one point in the afternoon, this man of mine, with puppy dog eyes said to me: “I think I’ve done 8 things for you today.”
Oh dear, I thought… did he think he needed to point out what he had done for me to take notice?
I laughed and told him I was sure he had actually done ten to fifteen things for me that day! I then named every one of those things and hugged him tight.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving.” ~William Arthur Ward
Challenge: Take a mental note or even write down the things you see your significant other doing for you and take the time to express it at some time that very day!
I can forget sometimes to verbalized my appreciation too, I love your story and the quote about the gift. I often think about something I’m appreciative of but if I don’t text my husband or tell him right then I easily forget.