(Saugatuck, MI)
Last week Linda and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary. We drove four hours to a Michigan beach town and spent four days together.
We walked, talked, sat on the beach, read books, had some good meals, sat by the pool, browsed, shopped, ate some fudge, and I had cherry peach pie. On the way home Linda led us in a praying time.
We gave gifts. And said the words, "Thank you."
"Thank you" is part of our marital arsenal. "Thank you" is a super weapon. We say these words, to each other, a lot.
"Thank you for the gift."
"Thank you for mowing the lawn."
"Thank you for the tuna salad sandwich."
"Thank you for doing the dishes."
"Thank you for finding my phone."
"Thank you for the reminder."
"Thank you for washing the clothes."
"Thank you for making the bed."
"Thank you for vacuuming."
"Thank you for the flowers."
"Thank you for all you do for me."
Thank you, thank you, thank you...
When people fail to say "Thank you" it can come off as entitlement. We see the entitlement disease in Luke 17:11-19.
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”
And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
When you stop saying "Thank you," often, you are taking the other person for granted.
Saying "Thank you" places you in a vulnerable position. This is why some don't say the words.
We don't have the perfect marriage. But we have both told God "Thank you," countless times, for bringing us together. We spoke these words again, both to God and to each other, as we celebrated 51 years.
Saying "Thank you" is one of our little secrets to a healthy marriage.
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See also One Simple Secret to a Healthy Marriage.
