1. Never belittle your spouse, even in jest; and especially never in public. Just don’t.

2. Always lavish legitimate praise for any and all of your spouse’s qualities or accomplishments, especially in public.

3. Almost all marriages that end badly do so because of selfishness. If your immediate inclination is to look for selfish behavior in your spouse instead of yourself, it is a good sign that you have a problem.

4. Husbands, listen to your wife when she speaks. She talks to you because she wants to have a relationship with you, not because she wants your advice. Listening is almost always all that she wants you to do. If you don’t listen, you may tempt her to become interested in another man who will.

5. Wives, give your husbands about 45 minutes to an hour when they come home to enjoy being home before you broach any negative subject. If he is met at the door with trouble, he may learn not to look forward to seeing you at the end of the day.

6. Commit yourself to the marriage, not just to your spouse. Your wife/husband will do and say things from time to time that make you angry or frustrated with them. If your commitment is only to them, such negative emotions may weaken your commitment. If, however, your commitment is to the marriage, you will find a way to work through your troubles.

7. Remember that no one gets married to be ignored or taken for granted.

8. It may be helpful to ask, “If my spouse could have seen who I would become today, would they have married me back then?”

9. Treat your spouse with respect. Respect, always, Period.

10. Remember what is written in the letter to the Hebrews, 13:4a “Marriage is to be held in honor among all….”