Cultivate a friendship with your wife. Be honest with your wife. Be loyal to her. Hold each other accountable. Encourage each other. Show interest in your wife’s activities and be willing to join her in some of them when you spend time together. Figure out what types of words and actions best communicate love to your wife (not just to you), and express your love for her in ways she’ll best receive. Give your wife the freedom of knowing that you won’t try to control her (making sure she has enough personal time, her own money and credit, etc.). Love her unconditionally. Make it a priority to schedule couple time just to enjoy being together.

Give your wife emotional security. Let your wife know that she can count on you to be there for her whenever she needs reassurance of your love. Give her plenty of affection and verbally express your love often. Ignite a spark of romance anew to let her know that your relationship is still doing fine.

Derive romantic inspiration from the Song of Solomon. Read the Song of Solomon in the Bible and let its examples of how emotional and physical love develops inspire you and your wife. Know that the love between you is a form of worship to God.

Remain committed. Assure your wife that the love you share is for a lifetime. Act on your love for her for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death parts you.

Adapted from What Makes a Woman Feel Loved?, copyright 2007 by Emilie Barnes. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Or., http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/

Emilie Barnes is the author of 60 books, including The Twelve Teas^® of Friendship; Cleaning Up the Clutter; Heal My Heart, Lord; and 15 Minutes Alone with God. Emilie and her husband, Bob, are also the founders of More Hours in My Day time-management seminars.