4. The Verbal Blessing

Have you ever noticed how the atmosphere of the house changes with a single sentence in the morning? Sometimes, we stumble out of bed tripping over a stray shoe, and before having our first coffee, we are already throwing complaints into the air. It seems our words have the power to paint the day gray or fill it with brilliant sunshine. And the truth is, as spouses, we have a superpower in our mouths that we often keep stored in the drawer of forgetfulness: the art of blessing.

I am not referring to anything mystical, or using super spiritual phrases that sound like an old movie script. To bless, in the most beautiful and biblical sense that God taught us, simply means 'to speak well' of the other person. It is giving your spouse an incredibly high value with your voice and painting a future full of hope with your words. It is using your lips as a tank of pure oxygen when the outside world feels like a room filled with toxic smoke.

Think about this: out there, your husband or wife is going to be evaluated solely by their results. Work is demanding, debts cause massive stress, and sometimes the kids squeeze out our absolute last drop of patience. The world is an expert at reminding us exactly where we fail, and pessimism constantly breathes down our necks. If our home becomes another courtroom where we only point out mistakes, where will our spouse run to find refuge and catch their breath?