Day 5--Love is Not Rude

"Genuine love minds its manners. Embracing this one concept could add some fresh air to your marriage. Good manners express to your wife or husband, "I value you enough to exercise some self-control around you. I want to be a person who's a pleasure to be with." When you allow love to change your behavior--even in the smallest of ways--you restore an atmosphere of honor to your relationship. People who practice good etiquette tend to raise the respect level of the environment around them.

Test yourself with these questions:

• How your spouse feel about the way you speak and act around them?
• How does your behavior affect your mate's sense of worth and self-esteem?
• Would your husband or wife say you're a blessing, or that you're condescending and embarrassing?

If you're thinking that your spouse--not you--is the one who needs work in this area, you're likely suffering from a case of ignorance and a secondary case of selfishness. Remember, love is not rude but lifts you to a higher standard.

Do you wish your spouse would quit doing the things that bother you? Then it's time to stop doing the things that bother them. Will you be thoughtful and loving enough to discover and avoid the behavior that causes life to be unpleasant for your mate? Will you dare to be delightful?

Here are some guiding principles when it comes to practicing etiquette:

• Guard the Golden Rule
• No double standards
• Honor requests

Today's dare: Ask your spouse to tell you 3 things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only." --The Love Dare