As Dave and I celebrate 27 years of marriage, we reflect on the lessons learned and the joys shared. To commemorate each year together, here are 27 fun and meaningful tips for nurturing a strong, loving marriage—a mix of wisdom we’ve gathered and advice we strive to follow.
27 Tips for Marriage:
1. Celebrate Marriage as a Covenant Worth Honoring: We remind each other why we chose this journey together, especially when we have a hard time with each other.
2. Keep God at the Center: This is so true- When God is in the center of our relationship, everything else can find its rightful place.
3. Recall God’s Faithfulness: There is so much to tell of how God has worked in our marriage!
4. Practice Forgiveness: Marriage is a union between two forgivers. It’s not always easy. I know when we hold grudges, our lives are miserable, and our marriage suffers. When we are quick to offer grace, it’s always better.
5. Support Each Other’s Dreams and Prepare for the Future Together: We try to be each other’s biggest cheerleader. It’s so nice to pray and dream together and prepare for the future together.
6. Practice Gratitude: I write a Gratitude List each day. When we practice gratitude, we notice little things we tend to take for granted.
7. Laugh Together Often: We laugh at the silliest things. We also enjoy watching Snuggly and laughing at her antics.
8. Communicate Openly: Never underestimate the power of honest conversation. But we need to season it with grace. Dave and I are growing in this area.
9. Listen Actively: Sometimes, we just need is a listening ear. Dave and I are improving in this area.
10. Prioritize Date Nights: Date nights don’t need to be expensive, but they keep the relationship alive. In fact, on our first anniversary date, we couldn't afford much, so we had Blizzards at Dairy Queen. Dave and I like to watch movies together, drive around, and eat nice meals.
11. Learn Each Other’s Love Languages: Sometimes the way we give love and receive love can be different. Discover yours and your spouse’s.
12. Respect Each Other: Mutual respect keeps the relationship healthy and thriving. LOVE is translated RESPECT in men's vocabulary!
13. Be Each Other’s Safe Space: Be the person our spouse can always turn to. Sometimes when we are in the judging mode, we are not being safe to our spouse.
14. Embrace Change and Challenge Together: Many times, changes and challenges are not fun, but doing them together with God makes it easier. And we are growing together as the side benefit.
15. Resolve Conflicts Peacefully: Marriage is a good place to practice James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Dave and I are still growing in this area!
16. Be Patient with Each Other: Patience is on the list of the Fruit of the Spirit that can make marriage smoother.
17. Handle Finances Openly: Dave and I have learned long ago that transparency in managing money reduces stress and conflicts.
18. Take Trips Together: Dave and I enjoy traveling together and creating shared memories and experiences. Now with PPS, we don’t do it as often but we still dream and plan for it.
19. Stay Curious About Each Other: It’s fun to keep discovering new things about each other. Each season seems to bring something new to each of us individually. For example, right now, I’m always hot and Dave is always cold in our AC room, which was never like this before.
20. Create Traditions Together: We try to build our own unique set of values and traditions that we want to pass on to our children and our next generation, mainly in how we honor and serve the Lord in our lives.
21. Cultivate Common Interests: Dave and I certainly have different personalities and hobbies, but we do enjoy several hobbies and activities together.
22. Encourage Independence: We’re a couple but also two different individuals. We do want to support each other’s independence.
23. Show Appreciation Daily: It’s good to say “thank you”.
24. Express Affection Regularly: Small acts of affection make a big difference. We like to hold hands. Or maybe I should say, I like to hold hands. Haha.
25. Maintain Physical Intimacy: We enjoy snuggling. Or maybe I should also say, I enjoy snuggling. Haha… Do whatever that keeps the physical connection alive.
26. Celebrate Milestones: We celebrate little and big milestones. Even more important now!
27. Seek Wisdom from Others: We keep learning from the relationships of those we admire. We listen to wisdom from our pastors, our cell group tribe, as well as from pastors from the online sermons. We even learn from our adult children! They know us well, so their wisdom is usually relevant. And of course the ultimate wisdom comes from the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
Celebrating 27 years of marriage has taught us that while the journey isn’t always easy, it’s incredibly rewarding. These 27 tips are areas of work in progress in our marriage relationship. We pray your relationships are also thriving and bearing much fruit with God’s help and grace.
Blessings and love,
Ani and Dave PS: Tell us your marriage/relationship tips! Or, tell us what you are working on from this list of 1-27.
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