Nurturing a Healthy Relationship

A strong, lasting relationship doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention, effort, and genuine care. If we want love to thrive, we need to nurture it with wisdom and understanding.

Ladies—DO NOT assume your husband can read your mind. He can’t. If something is weighing on you, say it.
Men—DO NOT assume women were created to serve you. They weren’t. A relationship is a partnership, not a hierarchy.
Be curious about each other. Move slowly, learn the depths of one another—don’t rush.
Practice self-control. Sex is beautiful, but intimacy is more than physical. Ask yourself: Do I have the right to be sexual without true emotional connection? Am I honoring myself, or casting my pearls before swine for the sake of desire? Respect. Love. Kindness—start with yourself first.
Stay engaged in the relationship. Pursue each other, embrace adventure, make time for fun.
Never stop dating your mate. Marriage isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.
Break the cycle of routine. Dating can become mundane—both partners need to keep it fresh and creative.
Explore each other deeply. Listen. Watch. Learn. See the soul behind the person.
Ask questions. How does your partner handle pressure? How do they cope with stress?
Keep communication alive. Speak with clarity, maintain eye contact, use a pleasant tone—and when you don’t understand, ask for clarity. Laugh together. Smile. Connect.
Be invested in each other’s dreams, ideas, and perspectives. What moves them? What excites them?
Give each other space. A healthy relationship allows room for personal friendships, couples’ friendships, and family time—balance is key.
Savor time together. Create moments to miss each other, to share your heart, to be transparent.
If marriage is in the future, address the wounds first.
Heal what you’re bringing into marriage. Understand your pain, forgive those who hurt you, recognize how past wounds have shaped your relationships.
Learn how trauma has affected you. Childhood abuse, toxic relationships, addiction—these things leave scars. Take time to see them for what they are.
In Closing

Love is not automatic—it is cultivated.
It is a choice, every single day.
And when we choose love, we choose growth, understanding, and grace—for ourselves, and for each other.