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Creating A.W.E. in Your Marriage
by Jim Burns
This week, author and radio host, Jim Burns, talks about creating A.W.E. (affection, warmth, encouragement) in your marriage. Today, he looks at affection.
The basic need of all people is to love and be loved. So one of the basic ingredients for a marriage to thrive is affection. If you are in a marriage with very little affection, whether it's sexual or nonsexual variety, you most likely are in a disconnected phase of your relationship.
Some studies report that it takes eight to ten meaningful touches a day for a person to thrive.
You can often create an atmosphere of intimacy and closeness through affection. If you are not naturally affectionate, don't fake being overly mushy, but work on it. If your family background or ethnicity didn't offer much affection to you when you were growing up, then you'll need to make an extra effort, but don't hold back or use it as an excuse for a lack of connection in your marriage.
Couples who hold hands, kiss passionately, and bring gifts like flowers and chocolate to one another are couples who have a much better chance for a healthy relationship.
Paul's advice to the Roman church was "Outdo one another in showing honor" (Romans 12:10 RSV).
You may not feel like showering your spouse with affection. But no matter how you feel, choose to intentionally focus on bringing affection to your relationship.
Article taken directly from the book, Creating an Intimate Marriage by Jim Burns. Published by Bethany House Publishing. For more on Jim Burns, visit www.homeword.com
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