Don't Lose That Lovin' Feelin'

December 19th, 2019
by Matt Schroeder

During the holidays its often a little easier to show love for those around us.

What can we do to make sure we don't lose those lovin' feelings throughout the year?

Below are a few ideas for how to keep the love alive in your most treasured relationships: marriage, family, and friendships.

IN MARRIAGE:

The most successful, healthy marriages make sure to enrich all dimensions of their relationship—spiritual, emotional, and physical.
To nurture the spiritual dimension of your relationship:

Read through a devotional together, pray, or worship together.
You might want to consider completing these sentences during a quite conversation:

– My most meaningful faith experience as a child was…

– I feel most spiritually alive when…

– I feel closest to you spiritually when…

For emotional closeness:

Plan an activity that just includes you and your partner. When the two of you make plans to do a fun activity together, you both have something to look forward to.
Complete these sentences during your time together:

– I am more in love with you today than ever because…

– I am grateful for you and for our relationship because…

– You still melt my heart when you…

For physical intimacy:

Increase your non-sexual touching and expression of affectionate words.

– Hold hands, give back rubs, take a walk, or cuddle on the sofa. You'll be amazed at how this increases the possibilities for more intimacy!

Make specific plans to nurture one of these dimensions of your marriage.

IN FAMILY:

Kiss your child's palm and roll their fingers tightly to "hold" the kiss for later.
Use chalk to write your child's name, followed by the words, "I love you in a big way!" Write your message on the driveway or sidewalk!
Learn to say, "I love you" in several different languages and surprise your child with those words of affection. You might even make it a theme. Have tacos and start your meal with, "Té amo mucho." Serve spaghetti and express your love with, "Ti amo!"
Write your child's accomplishments with show polish on the windows of your car. Brag to the world about the wonderful kid who's in the car with you.
Do something silly and surprising this week. Launch a water gun fight or wear a wig and clown nose to breakfast.
Initiate a tickle session in the morning or offer to wrestle after the homework is done.
Blow bubbles with your preschooler. As you pop each bubble, make up a funny nickname that will enhance your child's image of himself.
Text your teen and surprise them with the words, "I'm so glad I get to be your Mom/Dad. I couldn't have asked for a more special son/daughter."

IN FRIENDSHIPS:

The closest friendships include times of vulnerability as well as fun. Make specific plans to increase your vulnerability by sharing these conversations:

My most meaningful faith experience as a child was…
I feel most spiritually alive when…
I sense that the Lord wants me to change in these ways…
I would love for us to get together and have some fun. Something like…
It would mean a lot to me if we could…

Make plans to increase your experience of love by sharing these moments:

Look for ways to serve your friends—how could you meet their need for support? How could you pitch in to help?
How might you share words of appreciation with your friends? Be creative—make a giant apple out of craft materials and present it to a teacher. Write a thank you note on a wooden stir-stick for a friend who's in the construction business.
Which of your friends might need encouragement? Who's feeling weary of overwhelmed? Encourage your friend with a text or phone call—maybe a hand written note or even share a meaningful Bible verse.