When we first get married, connecting with our spouse almost always feels as natural as breathing. You feel compelled to connect because your emotions are so strong and vibrant for your bride or groom.

You want to get to know everything there is to know about this mysterious person because, well, … you don’t know very much at this early stage. You have yet to grow tired of those little idiosyncrasies that are so endearing to you early in the relationship …

But eventually will become irritating when bumping up against your own idiosyncrasies for one too many times! (Consider yourself warned!)

Of course, there are those who are so far away from that “twitterpated” (btw, this has nothing to do with Twitter!) phase of marriage that it seems like a joke to think that it was ever that way. Although I believe most, if not all, marriages could use a little challenge in the right direction, because marriage is hard and um … messy! 😉

Sometimes it just seems insurmountable to simply do small acts of love and achieve any kind of movement around the imposing mountain in our path.

If that is you and your spouse, then I want you to know that over my many years (let’s not talk about just “how” many!) of counseling, coaching and simply being in the trenches of marriage myself, I’ve seen the powerful impact of small, consistent connections moving mountains. It doesn’t always happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile pursuit.

[Tweet “The caring actions you take to win your mate’s heart will transform and strengthen your own.”]

Wouldn’t you rather have a stronger, more loving heart because you worked hard at your marriage, even though it eventually failed?

Remember …

[Tweet “Your stronger ability to love will not be left behind as you go into future relationships.”]

It always goes with you into your next marriage or relationship, making it that much better. I promise!

So for week two of our challenge, here are the daily acts of love and connection:

Day One
Write a brief love note on a sticky note and hide it where your spouse will be surprised to find it. It can say something as simple as, “Thank you for being a great dad to our kids!”

Day Two
Ask your spouse how you can pray for him. If your spouse is prickly about spiritual things, then ask your spouse how you can help him sometime during this day.

Day Three
Reflect on a fun memory you shared with your mate in the past. Say something like, “Do you remember when we … ?”

Day Four
Buy or bake a treat that you know your spouse would like and give it to him with a smile on your face sometime today.

Day Five
Send a flirty or friendly text. Something like, “I was thinking about you today and it made me smile!” 🙂 Click here for some other ideas from a post I did on 5 Things You Should Text Your Spouse.

Day Six
Thank your spouse for one way you appreciate his parenting, his work ethic or, if you’re really brave, what you love about his “bod!”

Day Seven
Find something to apologize for. We almost always do something irritating or neglectful with our spouses on a daily basis. Reflect on your day and then offer that slice of humble pie to your hubby at days end.

Click here for a printable of this week’s challenges.

Where are you on the continuum of “twitterpation”—a “ten and head over heels” or a “one and heading for the door”?

What hinders you from doing these small acts of love with and for your mate?

Joining with my friends at Giving Up on Perfect, Wifey Wednesday, A Little R & R Wednesdays, Mondays @ Soul Survival, Coffee and Conversation, and Wholehearted Wednesday.

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