A wife once came into a minister’s office full of hatred toward her husband. She declared: “I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.”

The minister suggested an ingenious plan: “Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him.

“Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!” And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting “as if.” For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing.

When she didn’t return, the minister called her.  “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”

“Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.”

Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promises, but by repeated deeds.

More than 2000 years ago Greek physicians believed that a special vein of love connected the third finger to the heart. Therefore, it  became the finger which bears the wedding ring.

Thanks to J. Allan Petersen for sharing this.

How has this “action” gotten played out or not played out in YOUR marriage or partnership?

GOD WILL WRECK YOUR PLANS WHEN GOD SEES THAT YOUR PLANS ARE ABOUT TO WRECK YOU!!

Every day a different poem to reflect upon and pray. Do check out my A POEM A DAY TO PRAY 2025 or send a copy to a friend of yours. Many people are doing so. https://treatsforthesoul.org/a-poem-a-day-to-pray/