Speak well of your spouse; praise them, love them, believe in them, and give them a verbal rose; a compliment or an edifying word. Afterall, if you don't love them, support them, and believe in them who will? Another important tip for a strong and unified marriage is not allowing anyone to speak badly of your spouse including yourself and do not join in with someone who does.
So often marriages give into this and it puts a barrier between you and your spouse and allows others with bad intentions to come in and "meddle" in your marriage(could be old friends, In-laws, relatives, co-workers etc.). If someone else speaks badly of your spouse you must stick up for them; you are one flesh! Guard your marriage and guard your heart. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mathew 19:5-6).}
Do not allow words of discord or criticism to come in and taint your thinking about your spouse. Negative words are poison to your marriage. A wise woman "Builds up her house and does not tear it down." Build up your spouse and think and speak well of them. Remember, when they do something you don't like call them on their "action" do not "label" them as a certain kind of person according to their action. This is labeling and name calling; which is unacceptable. Name calling and labeling "locks" them into a certain "role" and makes it harder for them to overcome that action.
Just a simple reminder to love your spouse and protect your marriage keeping it strong as you are one!
*FOOD FOR THOUGHT* *More to come on this subject!
