Men and women's brains are wired differently, and this is why married couples often find themselves arguing about the simplest things. Sometimes, when arguments escalate, fights ensue, and once loving husbands and wives find themselves turning against each other.
This is a problem Man in the Mirror Ministries founder Patrick Morley understands all too well. "Easily the biggest problem men face, as a group, is that their marriages are not working the way God designed," Morley wrote in an article for Charisma News.
But this is because men simply don't understand the right "theology of marriage," he said. For those who do, sometimes they refuse to believe it, while others who once believed in it have lost faith because things aren't going their way.
So in order to help, Morley dished out five practical tips on how a husband can show his love to his wife and thus strengthen their marital bonds.
His first advice is to pray together. Those who pray together often find themselves feeling more connected to one another, and their communication comes free flowing. Couples who pray together also realise that petty things do not matter anymore when they are united in the prayer front.
"And I'll tell you this," said Morley, "it's pretty hard to be upset with your wife or to be arguing and still come before God with a clean heart. It forces us to communicate and humble ourselves with each other before we do something as intimate as praying together. It just permeates through the rest of your family and day."
His next advice is for husbands to pray for their wives. Morley said husbands are the only people in the world who will consciously and regularly pray for their mates, and doing so will help transform men's perspective about their wives.
His third tip is for husbands to spend some quality time alone with their wives. "How we spend our time reveals what is really important to us. Successful couples spend time together. They develop shared interests, such as bowling, reading, hiking, Bible studies, board games, or walking around the neighbourhood," he said.
Next advice Morley has for husbands is for them to listen to their wives patiently without giving an overly quick reply. "Communication invariably shows up as the number one problem in marriage surveys. And the greatest weakness in communication with our mates is the problem of giving an overly quick reply," he shared.
"We attach high value to our mates when we listen sincerely and patiently to each other. Listening deeply requires that we don't respond too quickly, don't criticise, and don't give advice unless the other person asks for it. Listening lubricates marriage and cuts down on friction," he said.
Lastly, Morley stressed the importance of touch. Successful couples touch each other. They give warm hugs, tight squeezes, affectionate embraces, and comforting pats. They hold hands and put their arms around one another. Happy couples sit close to each other when watching television or movies. "Nonsexual touching leads to genuine intimacy. Touching her is like recharging her battery," said Morley.
