Another Mother’s Day has come to a close. Since 1914 (when Mother’s Day was officially made a national holiday in the United States) the second Sunday in May has become a time when mothers are celebrated. Dozens of other countries also celebrate Mother’s Day on the same day, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and Switzerland, among many others that celebrate on this day or other days throughout the year.

But when the last homemade pencil holder or pot of flowers has been pushed off to the side, the holiday hopefully will also serve as a reminder for husbands to consider their relationships with their wives, as they consider everything their wives do for their family. While a one day celebration can be a wonderful thing, a year-long attitude of caring can be the foundation upon which a healthy relationship is laid.

In his article “Commitment and Faithfulness in Relationships“, Dr Bill Strom, Professor and Chair of the Communications Department at Trinity Western University, describes the difference between commitment and faithfulness: “Commitment is our intent to stay in relationship with our wives; faithfulness is the practice of doing so.” Dr Strom continues to explore these terms and how seeking to live them out can have great practical benefit for your marital relationship.

Do you find that Mother’s Day usually ends up helping your relationship, or hurting it? If you have a funny or poignant Mother’s Day story to share, please feel free to leave a comment! And don’t forget to take a look at Dr Strom’s article.