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Appreciation is a powerful motivator in changing behaviour. Instead of nagging your spouse to do his chores, ask him to lend you his strong hands. Instead of shouting at her when a button drops off a shirt, tell her what a marvellous homemaker she is. Such tactics prompt others into striving to do their best.
Women need appreciation to establish a sense of self worth. They need to know that they are respected and appreciated for the contribution they make toward the smooth running of the family and home. Nothing on earth can build the self respect of a wife more quickly than for her husband reaffirming her value as a person, wife, mother a homemaker.
Husbands need someone with whom they can share their ideas of how things ought to be. They need someone to confirm their ideas in how they view of themselves. This confirmation, when it comes from someone who cares, reinforces their self image and makes them feel more confident.
In marriage, we are always reacting to one another positively and negatively or passively. We have the ability to heal one another or hurt one another, to restore or destroy, to help or hinder. We can make our mates feel important, alive and worthy or we can make them feel inadequate and useless. The best method to use in healing, restoring and helping is appreciation.
Next week, we will look at how a man can show appreciation to his wife and how a woman can show her husband that she loves and appreciate who he is and what he does for the family.
