HOME

Search for Pacific Northwest wedding businesses & services in the following categories:

Registries

Click here to sign up for NWweddingplace.com's FREE monthly e-newsletter

Complete Article:  Expectation vs. Gratefulness in Marriage In your relationship, do you have expectations of your spouse's "service", or do you have gratefulness? by Krista Dunk, NWweddingplace.com

Have you ever noticed that the IRS has expectations of you?  They expect you to pay your taxes, pay them on time, with no reminder, mistake-free, and to learn all the bizarre new code changes on your own each year.  After spending hours of your time and sending your hard earned money in, you get zero thanks in return!  No gratitude for all your efforts, sacrifice and hard-earned cash.  In fact, if you don't do what is automatically expected of you, they can be quite nasty!

In your marriage relationship, are you like the IRS?  So many times we expect certain tasks to be completed, expect certain responses and support, or expect a certain set of behaviors from our spouse and loved ones.  Many people have the tendency to focus on what their partner is not, and forget to be grateful for what they are.  What are you grateful for about your spouse today?  I'm not saying you need to make a "gratitude" list or something as structured as that.  But, you are attracted emotionally and even physically to things that you are grateful for.  What you are grateful for can captivate your attention and thoughts. 

However, on the flip side, be careful about having expectations of your spouse that are taken for granted.  People can easily become weary and have a sense of worthlessness when they receive no positive feedback about their efforts and sacrifice.  Having expectations of the other person without gratitude can capture your thoughts as well, causing a bad attitude, demanding tendencies and more. 

Saying "thank you" can make all the difference in certain situations. When you say it, it can bring the other person's heart back into a tender, open place knowing they are appreciated. Also by expressing your thankfulness, it brings your attitude back to the right focus as well.  Make a conscious effort to be grateful for and say thank you for your spouse's service to you, your family and home.  Practice gratefulness in your marriage and experience a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation. 

Copyright NWweddingplace.com 2008. All information contained herein is intellectual property and copyrighted by www.NWweddingplace.com. For information regarding use of this article, please contact article-inquiries@NWweddingplace.com.

 Get 40% off bestselling Christian books at FamilyChristian.com!

 A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music - from iTunes:

  Are you ready for marriage? Take our Pre-Marriage Survey now...

 Social Bookmarking