Married With Gratitude – a 30-Day Challenge!

Posted by: Shel 18 Comments

Married With Gratitude - a 30-Day Challenge!

November is a great month to be intentional about expressing your appreciation for the dearest person in your life. We say ‘thank-you’ to our spouses throughout the year for specific actions and do little nice things on occasion “just because.” As we should! But how often in between those moments are we taking them for granted? Are we doing a good job of letting them know how special they are to us – how much we value them? Let’s take November and make that happen. Let’s make Thanksgiving be more than a prayer and a 10 course meal with great leftovers. Let’s make it be more than a day.

The 30-Day Gratitude ChallengeHere’s the challenge: For 30 days straight be intentional about letting your spouse know how thankful you are to have them in your life. Here are some ideas to get things going:

  • Take the Calling All Spouses: 30-Day Gratitude Challenge that was issued here last year. If you haven’t taken it yet, check it out HERE – you’ll be surprised what benefits can be reaped from 30 seconds a day! If you took it last year, you already know how special the results are – and why now, a year later, is the perfect time for an encore!
  • Leave a little note for your spouse in different places every day with loving thoughts and kind words.
  • Send them a daily tweet noting something you appreciate about them each day.
  • Take on one of their little chores – taking out the trash, making sure the coffee’s made – for 30 days.
  • Get up a half an hour earlier to hang out with them first thing in the morning every day this month.
  • Answer the Facebook question “what’s on your mind?” with a gratitude moment about your spouse or a picture that will make them smile.
  • Wear their favorite color or the color they mentioned they like on you in some form – a tie, jewelry, bandana, scarf, sweatshirt, etc. – each day.

Pick one of the suggestions, some of the suggestions, mix and match the options, or come up with your own way to honor your spouse for 30 consecutive days. Be specific about what you plan to do – and commit to your plan. Be intentional about being grateful. The benefits for both you and your spouse will last much longer than the 30 days. Just one more thing to be thankful for!

Related:

5 Ways to Make Your Mate Feel Great

5 Fun Ways to Surprise Your Mate

101 Things to Say to Make Your Mate Feel Great

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18 Comments

  • Wonderful post, Shel, and the comments are icing on a splendid cake.
    This should be on Hallmark cards, for engagements, weddings, anniversaries.
    Well done, Shel!

  • Love these Shel. I have to say that my hubby leaves me little notes every morning. We have a daily devotional which he reads first, leaves with his note to me so that I get to read it when I come down (he leaves early). When he goes away on business I really miss his notes but he sends texts in their place. But reading this I’m thinking that I should get up earlier so that I can hang out with him in the mornings before he leaves, Time I did that…I’ve been far too distracted with..well…life. You’ve made me think and that’s a good thing…thanks Shel 🙂

    • Shel Harrington

      That’s such a lovely tradition that you and your husband have established, Sherri! What better to bond over than a daily devotional?? I can relate to the morning time differences – knowing that on most days I could go back to bed if I wanted to (even if I choose not to once I’m up) makes it easier.

  • Perfect timing as my husband and I celebrate 25 years married on the 18th of this month. 🙂 🙂

    • Shel Harrington

      A quarter century! That’s quite a landmark, Maria – congratulations!

  • Great ideas, Shel! We need to extend it to 360 days. Each day there’s an opportunity to express gratitude to our partners. If we don’t take advantage of it, we might not be around for the next day.

    • Shel Harrington

      It’s my hope for the challenge-takers that by being more intentional about expressing our gratitude it will turn into a daily habit. Isn’t that the timeframe that his touted for creating a new habit – getting past four weeks? I noticed you said it should be 360 days – what five days should we take off? (Yes, I’m just being a smart-alec – I know what you mean and I totally agree, Jill!)

  • Great ideas, Shel!

    • Shel Harrington

      Thanks, Luanne! And while I have you here, I must mention that I just got done with A Girl Named Zippy on tape, read by the author. My sister was reading the book at the same time. When we compared notes at the end, I felt cheated. The author’s voice is so lovely her descriptions of herself always surprised me. And I missed seeing the family pictures that I heard were included in the book. I hope she still has the book when I get out there for a visit so I can meet Zippy’s family!

  • Thanks for the reminder to show one another how we feel, Shel. Even if we do appreciate our spouse and the things she/he does for us, it’s all too easy to just fail to say so.

    • Shel Harrington

      It is easy to forget to express appreciation sometimes. I do things for my husband because I want to – but when I get a “thank you” or a “that really helps” there seems to be more joy in my efforts!

  • A wonderful idea Shel!

  • I try to be grateful for my spouse everyday, but this is a great challenge. It is something everyone should read.

    • Shel Harrington

      Thanks, Noreen – it sounds like you’re already in the gratitude habit. 30 intentional days can add a little cement to an already firm foundation!

  • thanks for fun ideas to enrich our marriages!

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