The way we relate to each other is of course important, but never as important as when one spouse is ill or injured. Any stress can negative affect the outcome, recovery, and side effects of surgery, but marital stress appears to play an even greater role.
Studies indicate that there is such a strong mind/body connection between spouses that marital discord can delay healing or even lead to complications when surgery is at issue. This is how profoundly we affect one another, which shows us that things we often think of as “no big deal,” may often be a very big deal to the people we love.
It is imperative to set aside differences is you or your spouse is ill or injured. You certainly don’t want to “win” an argument or “be right” more than you want your spouse to be well. No matter what problem has arisen between you, look deep into your heart to find ways to forgive your spouse and show love and compassion.
This is what genuine love is all about. It’s not about loving someone only when they please you, but always and unconditionally loving, like you promised when you made your vows.
It can take at least an extra day for a troubled spouse to recover. This not only translates into feeling poorly, but also the possibility of more missed work, requiring more care, and perhaps extra expense if he or she needs to spend an extra day in the hospital. Despite these practical concerns, the most important issue is helping your husband or wife heal out of love.
It is amazing to think that we have such power and using it in a way that affects your spouse positively is a tremendous gift to him or her. While the old saying goes, “Never go to bed angry,” we should also never let someone we love go to the hospital angry or while we are upset with him or her.
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