Week 2 #onesmallchange Challenge: Your Spouse Deserves Respect

Written by Aaron & April Jacob

You finished Week 1 - way to go! (And if you missed Week 1, it's not too late to join us!)

How was it? Comment below and tell us, was it hard or easy? Did you forget? Did it seem to make any difference? What did you learn about your spouse? About yourself? 

Like we said before, this challenge is meant to help you commit to doing small things, for just a month, to see if they don't make a big difference towards nurturing your marriage. 

The Week 2 #onesmallchange challenge is all about respect.

That little thing that all marriages need to stay alive. 

Your spouse deserves - and perhaps even craves - your respect. ​

Respect

Respect was something that came naturally when you two were dating, but perhaps has worn off a bit in the years since. 

Perhaps she wants to feel more respected in the bedroom and he wants to feel like she values his opinion. Or maybe she wishes he wouldn't burp every night at dinner, and he wishes she didn't make fun of him all the time. Or maybe she wants him to trust her and he wants her to stop bossing him around. Or perhaps she only dreams of him not criticizing her in public (and in private), and he wishes she showed more appreciation for all that he did around the home.

In each of these scenarios, each spouse wants to feel respected - valued, appreciated, and held in high esteem. 

Definition of Respect

According to Google, respect means to "admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements."

We don't really like that definition.

We would rather say that respect means to admire your spouse simply because of who they are, and because you are married to them, regardless of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. 

Some synonyms Google uses for the word respect include: esteem, regard, high opinion, admiration, reverence, honor, revere, and hold in high regard.

We do like those synonyms. 

Can you imagine how all marriages would be if both spouses held the other in highest admiration, honoring each other in the fullest sense of the word?

You are right, Nurturing Marriage probably wouldn't be needed. 

Week 2 #onesmallchange Challenge 

​No matter what state your marriage is in right now, one thing you can do to make it better is to show respect for your spouse. Your spouse deserves respect. Your respect. 

So, what does respect look like in marriage?

​And how are you going to make #onesmallchange to show respect for your spouse this week? 

In order for respect to grow, you have to do something about it. 

See, you can't control whether or not your spouse respects you, but you can show respect (absolute and total respect) for that good-looking husband or wife of yours. 

You may have caught on to what we are doing here - we are helping you change. We are helping you to see things differently, to see your part in this beautiful-drama-called-marriage, and to see what difference your efforts can make. 

So even if you feel like your spouse doesn't respect you, you can begin this week to show respect for your spouse. It's up to you - but we're here to help you out!

Click below for your Week 2 #onesmallchange packet to learn one thing you can do to show respect for your spouse this week! ​​

Happy nurturing!

​~ Aaron & April 

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You may also enjoy What the #onesmallchange Challenge is All About and The Art of Being a More Patient Spouse