Encompass Connection Center
  • Home
  • About ECC
  • For Couples
    • Free Relationship Assessments
    • The RINGS Experience
  • For Families
    • Free Parenting Assessment
    • Parenting for Kid's Sake
    • The REACH Experience
  • Donate
  • Get in touch
  • BLOG
PRACTICAL TIPS & INSIGHTS FOR YOUR

RELATIONSHIPS

Why the attitude of gratitude makes marriage go

11/8/2022

1 Comment

 
Picture
By Kermit Rowe 
Encompass Relationship Facilitator 

The attitude of gratitude is powerful in any relationship, but especially so in marriage. As powerful as it can be, it can also be just as challenging. 

Our spouse is someone we’ve committed the rest of our life to, who probably knows us better than any other human being. They are reminded daily that we are not perfect, and we make mistakes. There are going to be times when we will give each other reasons not to be thankful, mainly because we do this life together. Here are some ways to overcome the challenge of taking the best thing to ever happen to us for granted... ​
  1. Pray together. First things first! Studies show that couples who pray together regularly have a one percent chance of divorcing. How can that be? When we pray, we often express our thankfulness to God for things we value and enjoy as a part of our lives. Inevitably, the most important people in our lives are going to come up. When they do come up and we are praying together, then we hear how our spouse is honestly telling God how much they value us. Priceless! 
  2. Build up, don’t knock down. This is a relationship energizer in any human interaction, but especially in marriage. Eph 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Applying this command to intimate communication with the most important person in your life not only gives them an extra deep heart jolt but can also train you to do the same for others. Encouragement opens the floodgates of gratitude. 
  3. Build up your own soul. Working on your own walk with God will make it more likely that wholesome talk will proceed from your mouth. We must be aware of wounds from past hurts, fears, unforgiveness, and lies we believe, so that we can combat them with the truth of God’s Word and the power of His presence. When we wash our heart and mind with the water of the Word, we can see our partner with the same lens Jesus sees them through. Thankfulness is sure to follow. 
  4. Use a thankfulness journal. Sometimes we forget how thankful we are for the blessings in our life. When we write them down, we have a track record to remind us of what we really have to be thankful for when the deceptions and failures threaten to destroy our gratitude. 
  5. Forgive, even when you struggle to forget. Marriage is one great big forgiveness-fest. If you can’t forgive, you will struggle through what can become unholy matrimony. That’s because forgiveness is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Jesus died for us so that we could have the forgiveness upon confession of our sins that secures an eternity with Jesus in heaven. We are to forgive as we have been forgiven. If we refuse to practice this with our other half, we need to have a serious heart-check … even if they are clearly guilty. Col. 3:13 is clear: “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” It’s hard to be thankful for someone you are angry with. 

​Following these
five gratitude growers will help you experience “happily ever after” much more often.
 ​
Are you struggling with an attitude of gratitude towards your spouse or family? Whether you're looking for a new start or just some guidance and growth in your relationship or parenting abilities, you can get in touch with a knowledgeable and sincere advocate or coach at Encompass Connection Center by following the links below.
GET IN TOUCH
FREE RELATIONSHIP ASSESSMENT
FREE PARENTING ASSESSMENT
1 Comment
marriage counseling link
11/13/2022 01:53:09 am

When you are grateful for what you have, it naturally follows that you will be more content and happier. And when you are content and happy, it is much easier to be loving and patient with your spouse. So it stands to reason that having an attitude of gratitude makes marriage go more smoothly. Of course, life is never perfect and there will always be challenges and difficult times in any marriage. But if you can approach your relationship with a sense of gratitude, it will help you weather the tough times and appreciate the good times all the more.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    * indicates required
    Picture

    Hosts

    Lavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships.

    TOPICS

    All
    5 Love Languages
    Abuse
    ACE Score
    Achievement
    Aging
    Amygdala Hijack
    Anger
    Any Relationship
    Apologizing
    Asking Great Questions
    Attention
    Bids
    Busy Calendar
    Change
    Children
    Christmas
    Coaching
    Commitment
    Communication
    Competition
    Conflict
    Confronting
    Connection
    Consequences
    Counseling
    Couples
    COVID
    Date Night
    Death
    Deposits
    Emotions
    Empathy
    Especially For Couples
    Especially For Families
    Especially For Organizations
    Exercise
    Expectations
    Falling
    Family Business
    Family Trees
    Fear
    Finances
    Forgiveness
    Fun
    Generational Trends
    Genetics
    Getting Along
    Getting Things Done
    Giving
    Grandchildren
    Gratitude
    Grief
    Grieving
    Healthy Eating
    Healthy Lifestyle
    Holidays
    Humility
    Humor
    Illness
    Infidelity
    In Laws
    In-Laws
    Insomnia
    Intimacy
    Leadership
    Learning
    Legacy
    Listening
    Long Distance
    Loss
    Love
    Love Defined
    Marriage
    Minimalizing
    Morale
    Offenses
    Office Culture
    Our Stories
    Outcome Orientation
    Parenting
    Peace
    Planning
    Polarization
    Praying Together
    Preparation
    Proactivity
    Problem Orientation
    Productivity
    Research
    Restoration
    Retirement
    RINGS Chat
    RINGS Experience
    Romance
    Romantic Attraction
    Satisfaction
    Schedule
    Screen Use
    Siblings
    Sleeping
    Smartphones
    Stress
    Success
    Suicide
    Surprises
    Survey
    Talking
    Teamwork
    Teens
    Timeouts
    Traits
    Transformation
    Understanding
    Valentine's Day
    Virtual Relationships
    Wedding
    Withdrawals
    Working Out

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018

Picture

FIND IT QUICKLY

Refer A CLIENT
SHOP RINGS PROGRAM
bring rings to my area

STAY CONNECTED

OFFICE HOURS

MON 9a-2p
TUE 9a-2p
WED 9a-2p
THU 9a-2p
​Other hours by appointment
call us

VISIT US

616 N. Limestone St. | Springfield, OH
Funding is provided by Clark County Job and Family Services, The Turner Foundation, Springfield Foundation, Buckeye Health, private donations and fees.
​Program content is the sole responsibility of Encompass Connection Center and does not necessarily represent the views of the funders.
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.

​Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 37-1485217
  • Home
  • About ECC
  • For Couples
    • Free Relationship Assessments
    • The RINGS Experience
  • For Families
    • Free Parenting Assessment
    • Parenting for Kid's Sake
    • The REACH Experience
  • Donate
  • Get in touch
  • BLOG