In marriage, we must never get to a point where we think we know our spouse so well that we can just sit back, coast through life, and expect that they will remain the same. People change—not just outwardly, but inwardly.
For example, my wife, Denise, is not the same woman I married on November 11, 1971. Oh, she has the same name and the same social security number, but she’s not the same person. She has a different standard of living, a different outlook on life, different attitudes and expectations. She’s grown, and she’s changed.
We need to take a new picture of our spouse on regular basis. If you only see your spouse the way they were five years ago, or if you have a picture stuck in your head of the grumpy way they acted a few days ago and never take a new picture, you’ll come to a dead end in your relationship and stagnation will set in. Your spouse will be changing right before your eyes, but all you will see is the picture you took five years ago.
Allow for growth and change in your spouse. Stay current with the changes that may be happening inside of them. Take a new picture!
The Take Away
How do you take a new picture? By taking time to just sit down and talk. Find out if there are new things your spouse is interested in. Do they have personal goals and dreams that maybe you don’t know about? Communication is a big part of every marriage relationship. It’s the “camera” that will help you take a new picture.
