I've found such great peace and joy in admitting, "It's OK. I'm not perfect. Only God is perfect, and He is really what my wife is longing for."

After realizing that, it's so much easier to hit the reset button in my heart, change my communication efforts to speaking my wife's native language, and seek God's wisdom to allow HIM to speak through me to her.

I'm so glad that all my mistakes and failures have been forgiven at the cross thousands of years ago. My only part in Jesus' work is to acknowledge my imperfection and give it back to Him for more refining — for Him to live again through me.

And I'm finding that this perspective allows me to truly love my wife unconditionally (without expectation) while also communicating my needs and desires objectively. Again, Jesus' love and forgiveness is the only way I can even start to think this way!