The Gift of Thoughtfulness

I'm reading a book on how couples that pray together notice the positive difference in their lives.  In the current chapter that I am reading, they are talking about how to think thoughtfully and couples are challenged for forty days to pray and thank God as well as being thoughtful towards your spouse.

Nothing reassures your spouse more than to see or hear you express your appreciation through thoughtfulness.  But, really how do we do that?  An example of the extreme is the Gift of the Magi - you all know the story. Della and Jim loved each other very much and wanted to buy a special Christmas gift that would express their love and devotion to the other.  Della had beautiful long, silky hair that she loved and Jim adored and Jim had a pocket watch that was handed down to his father from his grandfather.  Della knew how much Jim loved that watch and wanted to buy him a special chain so she cut and sold her hair to purchase the gift.  She wondered if Jim would still think she was beautiful with short hair as she headed home with her prized package.  She was so excited to give Jim his present, she forgot about her short hair and what he would think.  As Jim opened the tissue that revealed the present he had to laugh.  Della soon would see why Jim was amused as he presented Della with his gift; two beautiful tortoise-shell combs for her hair that he purchased with funds from his pocket watch that he sold.  Both decalred their love and appreciation by giving up their own prized possession.  They both laughed and embraced as the greatest gift of all surrounded them, their love for each other.

Okay, so I guess we don't have to go down that path, but what can we do?   One example in the book was one spouse greeting the other with a hug and a kiss at the door as they came home from work.  Simple, yet caring.  Another example was valuing your spouses opinion. Really listening to their complaints and changing something for them.  Easy things, not cutting your hair, or selling your favorite watch but giving the gift of time and taking the time to listen to your spouse and put something into action that they have an opinion on.

During this time of thanksgiving and the approaching season of advent, it is the perfect time to examine our actions and to make the necessary changes that will align them with our beliefs.  I hope to take a more thoughtful approach to the way I speak to and show appreciation to Otto.  What better way to prepare the way for the Lord than to be thankful for and to be more thoughtful toward our spouse.