Have you evaluated 2024 with your spouse as yet? I mean, have you gone back over your year and discussed what you loved, what you missed, what you added, what you gave, what you received, what you grew in, what you failed in? Evaluation is a great way to end your year together.

Have you taken the time to share words of thanks with one another and to God? What are you thankful for? What can you thank your spouse for? Thankfulness blesses others and keeps our hearts from personal judgments. 

After considering those ideas, consider some questions that will help you to look forward to a brand-new year. Questions like:

• What vision do we have for our marriage and family in 2025?
• What exercise do we want to participate in together?
• What rhythms will we continue/discontinue?
• How can I help my spouse grow in their relationship with God?
• How can I be a reflection of God to my spouse?
• What couples or persons in our lives can help us to grow in our marriage?
• How can we better participate in a sabbath?
• What can increase our affection toward each other?
• How can we maintain our sexual intimacy?
• How can we grow our prayer intimacy together?
• What are some healthy marriage maintenance moves we can make in 2025?
• What spiritual goals can we create?
• What financial goals can we create?
• How can we make regular deposits of love in each other’s life?
• What marriage book can we read together?
• What marriage conference can we participate in?
• How can just the two of us vacate together?

Looking back, giving thanks and then looking ahead can be a tremendous value to your marriage relationship. It can give you focus, bring correction and provide unity in direction. Marriages that make it 40 or 50 years are marriages that take seriously personal and couple change to become more loving, more giving, more complimentary, more forgiving and more generous.