Worry weighs a person down: an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” If we take Twain literally, six compliments a year would have kept his emotional love tank at the operational level. Your spouse will probably need more.

One way to express love emotionally is to use words that build up. Many couples have never learned the tremendous power of verbally affirming each other. Solomon noted, “Worry weighs a person; an encouraging word cheers a person up”

(Proverbs 12:25)

Verbal compliments, or words of appreciation, are powerful communicators of love. They are best expressed in simple, straightforward statements of affirmation, such as:

“You look sharp in that suit.”

“Do you ever look hot in that dress! Wow!”

“I really like how you’re always on time to pick me up at work.”

“Thanks for getting the babysitter lined up tonight. I want you to know I don’t take that for granted.”

“I love how you are so responsible. I feel like I can count on you.”

What would happen to the emotional climate of your marriage if you heard such words of affirmation regularly? Look for ways to bring more words of affirmation into your marriage today.

Take time to pray and thank God for giving you the ability to make people feel better about themselves. Ask Him to help you become a person who fills other people’s emotional tanks with words of affirmation.

Take time to discuss together or reflect on these things;

What’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to you?

Why did it mean so much to you?

How can you tell when a compliment is sincere?

What specific steps can you take to make your home a place where words of affirmation flow freely?

Consider these passages for further study on affirmation:

1 Corinthians 1:4

I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 4:8

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. When we lift others up, remember how you can continually lift up the Lord.

Keeps us in check of our priorities.