FOTF-Logo-Stretch-Color.png
Search

Viewing Your Wife in a New Light

Share:
A man hands a bouquet of flowers to his wife.
Photo by Chiến Phạm/ Unsplash
After getting married, seeing your wife in a new, perhaps disappointing light can damage your relationship. Here's what you can do about it.

Carl and Barbie were opposites—and always had been. “Opposites attract” may be a common phenomenon but doesn’t necessarily lead to a strong marriage. Far too often what seemed irresistible in the swirl of hormones and emotional highs during a fast courtship turns out to be irritating in the 24/7, “up close and personal” daily life of husband and wife.

The mature and responsible guy seems to become a stiff, nit-picking perfectionist, boring and sexually uninteresting. The girl who appeared to be such a wonderful, bouncy, free spirit now looks like an irresponsible, immature twit with no depth at all. Is that what’s happened with your wife? The truth is that she’s the same woman you fell so much in love with. But you have changed—stripped of your illusions about her. You’re disappointed.

So what should you do?

You might find it helpful to sit down and list the reasons why you chose this particular woman to be your wife. Think of all her attributes that you enjoy and value. Think of yourself as the author of the Song of Solomon, writing about your bride. Shift your focus from the negative and critical to the positive and appreciative.

Then make a date to share these thoughts with her.

If this seems impossible, consider the very real possibility that your marriage is at a crossroads. Disappointment may be making you vulnerable to the attentions of others, who you might imagine would better meet your needs and expectations. Or you may just be resigning yourself to years of regret about your choice of a spouse, bitter that you’re obligated to stay in a marriage without any hope of realizing your dreams.

If this describes you, it’s past time for you and your wife to seek marriage counseling. Find a Christian professional who won’t reinforce the lie that happiness lies just around the corner if only you escape from this mistake and move on to something new.

Your situation is not at all hopeless. But it does require a fresh perspective and some tools to employ in developing a more mature relationship.

Dynamic CTA Template Below

Share:

About the Author

Read More About:

You May Also Like

Healthy Marriage

5 Ways to Stay on the Same Team

If you and your spouse are going to function as teammates in marriage, you need to actually understand each other’s situation and validate each other.

A selfish husband argues with his wife
Becoming a Stronger Husband

A Husband’s Selfishness

Dr. Ron Welch, the author of The Controlling Husband: What Every Woman Needs to Know, shares his story of making his wife and marriage a priority.

Strengthening Your Marriage

A Need for Grace

The more we realize that our performance will never reach God’s level of perfection, the more our excuses shatter. God’s patience makes it possible for us to learn deeper levels of repentance and joy.