Appreciating Your Spouse

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, my wife has been on my mind a lot lately. Well, I usually think about her plenty anyway, so she’s actually been on my mind more than usual, which is saying something. When I sit down and list it out, it’s really amazing how many and varied are the ways that we appreciate each other. I believe that, if anything, is the reason our marriage is so strong.

Sometimes it’s something you say, other times it’s something you do, but it never has to be a grand gesture with us. Heck, sometimes we’ll do something nice for one another that’s so small as to be unintentional. For example, my wife had been sick for several days earlier this week. Once she started feeling better, I casually mentioned that I really missed her cooking. It was just a little compliment, but it certainly seemed to touch her.

Sometimes a gesture of appreciation can even linger. About two years ago, my wife was into arts and crafts and had made a tiled flower pot. Unfortunately, on her way to work one day she knocked it over and broke it. Naturally, I knew how much work she’d put into it, so while she was gone I glued it back together. Despite how long it’s been since that happened, she mentioned just yesterday that she loved to look at it every day.

My wife, of course, reciprocates plenty. Last night, she got dressed up and cooked me a fantastic dinner, complete with garlic biscuits, corn, and an absolutely succulent pork roast. Supposedly the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I, for one, adore my wife’s cooking, and look forward to eating last night’s leftovers for lunch.

I suppose the real trick is to practice random acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Philosophical arguments aside, selflessness makes a good relationship, but only when both partners practice it. If yesterday taught me anything, it’s that you don’t need a special occassion to show your spouse how much you appreciate him/her. Who needs Valentine’s Day when you can make any day romantic?

Of course, my wife and I still fully intend on celebrating Valentine’s Day. I’ve been pondering whether to get her a purse she’s been wanting or to get her wedding ring fixed (one of the stones keeps falling out). If I had the finances, I’d love to do both and more. Thankfully, my wife shares my budgetary concerns, so we’ll probably end up fixing her ring, getting some Lindt chocolates, and settling in that night with some Bartles and James. After all, the most important thing we could have is completely free: each other’s company.