L needs to cultivate love for his wife, love that will find expression in words and deeds. He should cultivate tender affection. His wife has a sensitive, clinging nature and needs to be cherished. Every word of tenderness, every word of appreciation and affectionate encouragement, will be remembered by her and will reflect back in blessings upon her husband. His unsympathizing nature needs to be brought into close contact with Christ, that that stiffness and cold reserve may be subdued and softened by divine love. It will not be weakness or a sacrifice of manhood and dignity to give his wife expressions of tenderness and sympathy in words and acts; and let it not end with the family circle, but extend to those outside the family. L has a work to do for himself that no one can do for him. He may grow strong in the Lord by bearing burdens in His cause. His affection and love should be centered upon Christ and heavenly things, and he should be forming a character for everlasting life. {3T 530.2}

L behøver at opelske kærlighed for sin hustru, en kærlighed der giver sig til udtryk i ord og handlinger. Han bør opelske en blid kærlighed. Hans hustru har en følsom hengiven natur og har brug for at blive elsket. Ethvert ømt ord, enhver påskøndende handling, hengiven opmuntring, vil hun huske og det vil gives igen som velsignelser for hendes mand. Hans uforstående natur behøver at komme i nær kontakt med Kristus, så den stivhed og koldhed kan holdes nede og blødgøres af guddommelig kærlighed. Det vil ikke være svaghed (531) eller en opofrelse af mandighed og værdighed at vise sin hustru ømhed og forståelse ved ord og handlinger; og lad det ikke slutte i familiekredsen, men brede sig til dem uden for familien. L har et arbejde at gøre for sig selv som ingen andre kan gøre for ham. Han kan vokse sig stærk i Herren ved at bære byrde i hans sag. Hans hengivenhed og kærlighed bør centrere sig om Kristus og himmelske ting og han bør danne sig en karakter for det evige liv.