AFFECTION: Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the affectionate care of a parent; affectionate countenance, message, language. Affection is not the same as sex and distinguishing the two is vital. I like to think of affection of a way of displaying your love for another person through an act of kindness. We can give affection to others simply by giving someone a much needed hug, pat on the back, or encouraging words. I encourage you to tell that someone you are praying for them and they are cared for.
As I read on affection, my attention was brought to the repeated times Neil has come home from work dropped his gear on the table and proceeded to give me a kiss. He does this daily regardless of my mood. And, has even done this at times when I may have snapped at him minutes prior to walking in the door. It melts away the stress and tension of the day and leaves a door open for peaceful communication between the two of us. I applaud him for his consistency in the area of showing me affection. Having experienced prior relationships where little or no affection was ever shown my appreciation and understanding of how important affection is has grown. Have you shown someone you love the affection they deserve lately? Told a parent how much you appreciate their guidance or a friend their support? They will appreciate it and your relationship will only strengthen because of it.
Lord, I pray for open physical affection between my husband and me. Enable each of us to lay aside self-consciousness or apathy and be effusive in our display of love. Help us to demonstrate how much we care for and value each other. Remind us throughout each day to affectionately touch one another in some way. Help us to not be cold, undemonstrative, uninterested, or remote. Enable us to be warm, tender, compassionate, loving, and adoring. Break through any hardheadedness on our part that refuses to change and grow. If one of us is less affectionate to the other's detriment, bring us into balance.
Where any lack of affection has planted a negative view of marriage in our children, or taught them an incorrect way of relating to a marriage partner, help us to model the right way so that they can observe it. Show us how to openly confess our errors to them and demonstrate our commitment to live differently.
Change our habits of indifference or busyness. May we not so take each other for granted that we don't make the effort to reach out and touch one another with affection. Help us not to weaken the marriage through neglect of this vital means of communication. I pray that we always "greet one another with a kiss of love" (1 Peter 5:14). I know that only the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can make changes that last. I trust You to transform us and make us the husband and wife You called us to be. AMEN!
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