A good wife / husband

[ddelaurier]

Hello to all that read this. I would like to start a list of what people think are attributes of a good wife or husband. First of all, I would like to say that I have been married to the same wonderful lady for 37 years. Surly God selected this most wonderful creature just for me, as I really needed her in my life. When we were first married, we were commited to making it work. Any other options were out of the question.  Here are some of the attributes I think are important:

Loving
kind
understanding
able to communicate - talk, talk and talk some more (very important)
committed to their faith
able to laugh
of the same faith (very important, as it is the job of the married couple to obtain salvation for both as well as for their children)
supporting
of one flesh (my wife and I are one in Christ)
....
....
....
I know there are hundreds more, but I will let you fill them in. I have not always been a really good husband, but through my faith, I have come to understand how precious my wife is, and that when she is critical of me, that it comes from love.

God Bless all who read this
Dennis

[Seeker]

Dennis,

I like your post.  I've only been married to my wonderful wife for 12 years so I'm not as experienced as you.  You have a great list started.  I can only add a few more:

trusting (in each other and God)
loyal (to each other and God)
gutsy with love (in other words, not afraid to tell it like it is, especially when I'm wrong, guess this goes with your ability to communicate)
forgiving (I think this is a big one.  It's important to keep a short memory regarding your spouse's faults and mistakes.)

St Paul also has a great list regarding love that could easily be added here (1 Cor 13:4-7).

[tklein1014]

Just one to add to those already listed from my meager (almost) 6 years experience...

Flexibility/ability to compromise - This is a big one, especially during that first year...

Tina