Little Things In Marriage That Make a Big Difference…

I remember the first date I had with my husband George. He picked me up in an economy rental car (his car had just been in a small accident and was getting repaired at the body shop) and he took me to a trendy Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood. As we stood at the restaurant's bar sipping our cocktails (the place was packed and we had to wait for a table,) he took one of the bar's small paper napkins and began to turn it into a cute paper rose. When he finished, he brought it to his nose and pretended to smell it… "Beautiful," he said – "A beautiful rose for a beautiful lady." Then he handed me the paper rose. The First Rose Planted in Our Garden of Love. The rest of our date was wonderful, but it was that single paper rose what made the whole experience memorable… No one else in my life had previously made me feel so beautiful and special as George did with that rose. It was a simple, little thing that showed me how much he cared and how special that moment and I made him feel. A little thing that not only made me happy, but also made me forget everything that went wrong on that date: The fact that I had a huge pimple on my forehead that made me feel ugly and self-conscious. The fact that it took us well over an hour to get a table at the restaurant. The fact that we missed the movie we were originally planning to watch. The fact that the rental car was so malfunctioning and we were both afraid of being left stalled at night in the middle of the street. Now… A Lovely Field Full of "Paper Roses" Fast forward to now in my marriage with George more than 7 1/2 years after that first date. Our relationship is still full of what I call "paper roses," also known as the "little things" in our marriage that make a big difference. These things I'm referring to are usually quite simple, inexpensive and easy to do, but they make an incredible difference in our marriage. They are the little things that show each other that we care, that we are there for each other, and that there is nothing that will come between us. They ensure that our marriage is strong, loving and full of trust while constantly "rekindling" the romance between us. Until this day, George and I constantly give "paper roses" to each other. It's me leaving his clothes neatly picked and set for him in the morning. It's George calling me every day after work to ask me if I need anything from the drugstore or grocery store on his way back home. It's me cooking his favorite meal when I know he's had a rough day at work. It's him opening the doors for me at all times. These little things throughout our marriage mean the world to us. And they don't have to be expensive, luxurious and extravagant to have that effect. They are the simple "paper roses" that we make sure to give each other each day. The little things that make a big difference in our marriage by making us know that, regardless what life throws our way, we can still be as happy as on our first date. What are the little things that make a big difference in your marriage? What are your own "paper roses"?