by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
December 12
What Communicates Love to Women (Part One) Ephesians 5:28,29
So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies,...for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.
What would your wife do if you looked her in the eye one night and asked, "Sweetheart, what can I do to let you know that I love you? What communicates love to you?"I know from experience that many wives would respond in one of several ways:
Fall to the floor in shock, stunned that her husband would even ask. Run to the bathroom and return with a thermometer, certain that he must not be feeling well. Laugh cynically and change the subject, figuring that he's probably just joking. Frown with suspicion, knowing from experience that her husband is just trying to manipulate her so he can get something he wants.I wish that didn't sound so cynical, but many men seem to lose their romantic ardor once they marry. Some men stop thinking of what communicates love to their wives and focus on trying to meet their own needs.
If you ask this question of your wife, she may not have an answer immediately. She probably hasn't had time to think about it. But she will be pleased you are interested in meeting her needs.
Once you learn the answer, you will need to follow through and demonstrate your love to her with no strings attached. Too often, as men, we think of romance as a means to an end-and that end is sex. We think, If I do this for my wife, she'll really be responsive in bed tonight!
If that's your attitude, your wife will sense it quickly. That's not sacrificial love. When you seek to please your wife in this area of romance, you've got to understand you need to deny your agenda and let the goal be solely to help her feel loved, nourished and cherished.
Prayer:
That you would be able to nourish and cherish her with no strings attached and no agenda of your own to fulfill.
Discuss: Ask your wife what makes her feel loved. Now c'mon, think about this one for a while. This could be really fun and educational!