By Chad Olson
When I was growing up, I knew that every spring at the Olson household we would have a major cleaning session. It was time to dejunk, get organized and deep clean for the coming year because the house and yard tended to get neglected during the long winter. As I reflect upon those “Spring Cleanings,” it was not an event I really looked forward to; in fact, I dreaded all the work. Yet, if I am honest with myself – there was something satisfying about working hard to get organized and make things look good again. These experiences have always reminded me that spring is a wonderful time of year because it’s symbolic of new life and rejuvenation.
Because of this, spring can be an excellent opportunity to reflect on one of the most important relationships people experience during this life –their marriage. Because of “long winters” that occur at various times in marriage, there is value in taking time with your spouse to do a marital spring cleaning. Sometimes when my parents asked me to complete a big project during spring cleaning, it seemed overwhelming and I didn’t even know where to start. My parents would then help break down the bigger picture into smaller parts which made it possible for me to eventually complete the whole task. If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of analyzing your whole marriage, consider the following suggestions to start the cleaning. You may even want to share with your spouse these ideas or ideas of your own that would be helpful for your own personal marital spring cleaning.
First, I would suggest that you take some time as a couple to look through your wedding album or watch your wedding video. As couples reflect upon their wedding, they start to remember the reasons why they decided to get married in the first place. They can think about everything they did in their dating and courtship that made their relationship strong! Relationships are governed by laws and it will come as no surprise that couples who spend time together talking and doing fun things together are more attracted to each other. On the other hand, that same law states that for couples who neglect doing the fun things they did during dating and courtship, their relationship gets stale and mundane. I realize that life gets busier after the wedding with careers, children, and challenges, yet couples who want to keep their relationship fresh will make time to do the things that made them fall in love with each other in the first place! So, get that photo album out and remind yourselves of that deep attraction you once had!
The next suggestion is to improve the friendship with your spouse. Research from the Gallup Organization indicates that a couple’s friendship could account for 70% of overall marital satisfaction. In fact, the emotional intimacy that a married couple shares is five times more important than their physical intimacy. This research is in line with other research studies asking happily married couples who have been together for over 30 years what they attributed their marital happiness to. The number one response was their friendship. It seems simple, but friendships require time and effort. So what makes a good friend? Simple qualities such as thoughtfulness and showing appreciation are a good start. Try to remember the little things throughout the day that your spouse is involved with and ask how they went. Make birthdays, anniversaries and holidays special by doing little things that remind your spouse they are your best friend. A true friend is loyal, fiercely loyal! A genuine friendship is also based on principles of reciprocity – wherein both spouses are contributing and the result is mutually beneficial.
Consider the following quote from a well-respected ecclesiastical leader, Marlin K. Jensen: “Friendship is … a vital and wonderful part of courtship and marriage. A relationship between a man and a woman that begins with friendship and then ripens into romance and eventually marriage will usually become an enduring, eternal friendship. Nothing is more inspiring in today’s world of easily dissolved marriages than to observe a husband and wife quietly appreciating and enjoying each other’s friendship year in and year out as they experience together the blessings and trials of mortality.”
Remember that even though spring cleaning can seem a little daunting, it can be very satisfying as well! So, let’s get cleaning!
