There were two main ideas that showed an overwhelming response. The first of these is having great communication with your partner/spouse. There are times when being in a relationship takes work and there are other times when it is effortless. Loving someone enough to work through the tough times and accepting them as they are takes effort. Great communication allows a couple to talk to each other no matter what is going on around them good or bad. It is equally important to share the good times as talking through the rough times. Having empathy and being willing to look at situations through your partner’s point of view can help increase communication in a relationship. Being selfless and putting your partner’s needs first was also on the list as a great way to maintain open communication.
The other important aspect that showed up throughout the responders was faith and a couple’s shared and active relationship with God and his Son. Couples felt that renewing their mind in the word of God daily so that they could share their relationship with God and Jesus was vital. Persisting in responding to Jesus’ love in their relationship made them stronger as a couple. Shared values is an important part of any relationship. Faith is a great building block for couples to build a future from.
There were several smaller aspects to relationships that popped up throughout the responses as well. One of these common aspects was humor. Having the ability to laugh with your partner was key in a lot of different responses. Along those lines, I thought it was great to add that one of my friends said the thing that makes her relationship work best is his and hers bathrooms! It is humor that keeps her laughing in the good times and gets her family through the rough patches.
Other responses included aspects of trust, honesty, forgiveness, and patience. The last response I found really interesting is that a couple I know tries to live by the 10/1 rule. This is when for every one injurious action or statement made to your partner, you should make ten kind acts to repair it. I found this interesting and could see how this would keep the relationship positive.
How about you? Is there anything you would add or take away from this post as making a relationship work long term? Please feel free to add any stories or insights.