Dear Pastor,

These are some of the things that a woman can do to make her man feel special:

Respectfully communicate with him.

Let him know he is important to you.

Purposefully try to understand his feelings, even when you disagree with him.

Show interest in his friends by giving him some time with them if they are trustworthy.

Let go of the small stuff. We all have annoying habits and preferences that are different from our spouses'.

Tell him you love him and like him.

Either show interest in his hobbies or allow him space to participate freely.

Protect his dignity on a daily basis.

Be tender with him, realising he has feelings also.

Foster an atmosphere of laughter in your home. Look for ways to laugh together.

Try not to make sudden major changes without discussion and giving him time to adjust.

When you go out on a date together, don't bring up problems, have fun instead.

Focus on what he is doing right, instead of focusing so often on the negatives.

Show interest in what he feels is important in life.

Give him special time with you apart from the children.

Recognise that the first few minutes after a spouse comes home often sets the stage for how the rest of the evening will go. So try to make the first few minutes a positive experience, and then ease into the negative if it's necessary.

Give him half an hour to unwind after he gets home from work. Your evenings will be much more enjoyable.

Don't allow any family member to treat him disrespectfully. Be the one to defend him to any family member who dishonours his place as your husband.

Compliment him often.

Be creative when you express your love, both in words and actions.

Talk with him about having specific family goals for each year to work on to achieve togetherness, so you will both feel closer to each other as a marital team.

J.L.

Dear J.L.,

Thanks for your suggestions to all couples.

Pastor