10 Years Into Our Marriage My Wife Said, “She Had Lost All Feelings For Me…

Dave Wilson

Dave Wilson

Co-Founder & Orion Lead Pastor

Fear and regret gripped my heart.

It choked out all hope that my marriage would survive.

My wife of 10 years had just told me she had lost all feelings for me and had little hope that her feelings could be rekindled.

What had happened?

How did we get here?

The week before, I would have told you our marriage was a 10 out of 10. On a fateful anniversary celebration she informed me that our marriage was a 0.5!

How could I be so clueless to the deadness of my wife’s heart?

Ever been there?

I was determined to win her back and get her number higher.

I was on a mission.

My first step was going to God! Yes, you heard me right. I started our marriage making sure He was first in my life, but somewhere along the way I left Him in the dust…along with my young wife. I had put all my energy into starting a church and into Detroit Lions players as their chaplain. My sole focus was to fulfill my dreams. I didn’t realize at the time that building the future would be pointless if God and Ann weren’t by my side.

Somehow OUR dreams had become MY dreams.

“God, I put you back in first place. That’s where you belong. I need your wisdom, guidance and help to win back Ann’s heart!”

I asked Jesus for power and He delivered.

Jesus tells some of His followers who had lost their first love to “Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5)

The word “repent” means to change the way you are living and start a brand new life. Jesus makes it real clear what this new life looks like. He says to go back to what made you fall in love in the first place.

If you want the love you once had, do the things you once did.

I wasn’t pursuing Ann like I had when we first fell in love. I was pursuing my career and left Ann behind.

So I started dating her again…weekly. Yes, it’s possible. Whatever is really important to us shows up on our calendar. I realized that I could conquer the world, but if my wife didn’t love me, then I’ve accomplished nothing of true value.

To regain our love I started pursuing her again like when we first fell in love. We dated before we were married, so why not date after? It’s what couples in love do.

I rediscovered that Ann spells love this way…T.I.M.E. She feels so loved when I make time for her…consistently. So, I made her a top priority. And priorities come “prior” to everything else.

And man did that start to rekindle her feelings for me!

TAAALK

And guess what she wanted to do on those dates? You guessed it: talk.

Now she didn’t just want to talk about life or the kids. She wanted to taaalk about our marriage. I spell taaalk this way because she longed to talk in depth about us! Not exactly my dream date, but it wasn’t about me. It was about her feeling loved. So if she wants to taaalk about us, then I’m all in.

And guys, I discovered something fascinating about women…they don’t want us to fix their problems. I remember one time Ann began sharing how hard her days were as a mom with young kids. She felt that she never accomplished anything and was exhausted day after day. I listened for a minute and then went away for a few moments to figure out how to help her. I came back with a note that I had written. As I handed it to her, I could see her excitement. I found out later that she thought I had written her an encouraging love note about how much I appreciated all she did for our family. Instead, she found that I had written down 10 steps to a “more organized and productive life as a mom.”

I’m not kidding.

I actually wrote those down and told her that I had prayed and God gave me those for her. She promptly ripped up my 10 tips, threw them in my face, and marched out of the room, yelling, “And that was NOT from God!

Needless to say, I’ve learned that she doesn’t want me to solve her problems, but to be her partner in the middle of those problems. Just let her vent and step into the mess with her. That makes her feel loved. Who knew?

And here is a question that I began to ask on our dates, “On a scale of 1 to 10, what is our marriage right now?” I knew that she knew better than I how we were doing and that she also knew how to get us to a higher number.

I’m a competitive guy and I’ll do whatever it takes to get our marriage closer to a 10.

TOUCH

I also discovered that Ann feels loved when I touch her. The bummer for me was that she wasn’t talking about sexual touch, but non-sexual touch.

What in the world is non-sexual touch?

In a word, it’s affection. Holding her hand. Putting my arm around her shoulders. Rubbing her back, and only her back. I did all of those things when we were dating, yet the only time I touched Ann after marriage was when I wanted sex. That does not make a woman feel cherished!

Ann felt loved when I made TIME to TAAALK and TOUCH in an affectionate and tender way.

But there’s one more big action that brought her love back…TRUTH.

When we were dating I consistently initiated reading the truth of God’s Word together. We would pray on every date.

After marriage I just got lazy.

I led our congregation spiritually but got lazy at home.

When I began to pray daily with Ann, her feelings for me started to return.

I remember one evening as we finished praying, I looked over at Ann and she had this glint in her eye. She then grabbed my arm and said, “I want you to know that praying with you each night is the sexiest thing you could do for me.” She gave me a little wink.

It was right then and there that I decided that if this is how it works for my woman, then I’m going to become the most spiritual man you have ever met!

Oh…and she also said we are now a 9.8!

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Titus 1

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness– 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, 4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless– not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach– and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

Other Helpful Passages:
Ephesians 4
1 Corinthians 12-13
1 Peter 5
2 Timothy 2:2

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Cost: $45
The cost includes a workbook, snacks at each meeting (including coffee), and dinner at end of session. Childcare available.

You are encouraged to join us on any week. Sessions are self-contained.

Grief Recovery

At Kensington’s Grief Recovery support group, you can find hope and healing after the loss of a loved one. It’s a place where you’ll encounter caring people who can empathize with your pain because they’ve been through it themselves.

Winter Grief Recovery | Feb 6 – April 30 | Orion campus
Winter Grief Recovery | Feb 13 – May 7 | Troy campus (DAYTIME GROUP!)

Find a Grief Recovery group near you: griefshare.org

You are encouraged to join us on any week. Sessions are self-contained.

Kensington Visitation

Our dedicated volunteers bring encouragement and prayers of faith to those who are in local hospitals, medical centers, recovery centers and homebound. If you or someone you know would like to be blessed by such a visit, email visitation@kensingtonchurch.org or call the Troy Campus during business hours at 248-786-0600.

Pastoral Care

Members of our Pastoral Care Team are trained by the nationally known Stephen Ministry program and are compassionate listeners who walk alongside others to provide skilled and distinctly Christian care in times of need. They can’t promise to have all the answers, but they can promise their focused support. To receive care from one of our Pastoral Care Team members, call us at 248.786.0600 and ask for a Campus Care Provider – they can get the process started.

Interested in joining our Pastoral Care Team? Email us for more info.

1 Timothy 3

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. 14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

Other Helpful Passages:
Ephesians 4
1 Corinthians 12-13
1 Peter 5
2 Timothy 2:2

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Troy

5pm | 12/23
Birth–PreK programming

7pm | 12/23
Birth–PreK programming

11am | 12/24

Birth–PreK programming

1pm | 12/24
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3pm | 12/24

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5pm | 12/24
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Orion

5pm | 12/23
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7pm | 12/23
No children’s programming

11am | 12/24
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1pm | 12/24
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3pm | 12/24
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5pm | 12/24
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Clinton Twp

5pm | 12/23
Birth-PreK and Elementary programming

7pm | 12/23
Birth–PreK programming

11am | 12/24
Birth-PreK and Elementary programming

1pm| 12/24
Birth–PreK programming

3pm| 12/24
Birth–PreK programming

Birmingham

11am | 12/24
Birth-PreK programming


1pm | 12/24
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Traverse City

2pm | 12/24
No children’s programming

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Clarkston

10am | 12/24
Birth-PreK and Elementary programming

12pm | 12/24

Birth-PreK programming

Marriage and Blended Family

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Birmingham Campus

We are offering a time for our congregation to gather after the 10am service for prayer in the Groves Auditorium, 20500 W 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025.

On Sunday evening, Dec 5, parents of high school and middle school students are invited to the second half of our Edge gathering at Genesis Church, 309 N Main St, Royal Oak, MI 48067, at 6:15pm. We will have a breakout to equip parents in caring for themselves and processing pain with their children in times of tragedy.

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Parents – self care is critical. It’s important to do your own processing with another adult so that you can be more present as your child processes. Here are tools that you can use to get you started.

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“The aftermath of the Oxford shooting tragedy will undoubtedly result in traumatic symptoms and experiences across our communities for quite some time. Healing the brain through evidence-based therapies is absolutely possible with clinical guidance. There is a valuable village of Trauma Therapists with collective resources standing by for Oxford, for both direct and secondary survivors to engage in therapy. Until then, we honorably hold a sacred space, as students, families, staff and school partners continue to mourn.” -Laura Azoni, LMSW, Founder of Sanctuary Services

Orion Campus

We believe that unity at this time is more important than ever. Several churches in the area are partnering together to offer space for students to begin the process of healing.

We will have several grief and trauma specialists on site this Sunday evening at our Orion Campus (4640 S Lapeer Rd Lake Orion, MI 48359) from 5-6:30pm and will have a night of prayer, worship and an opportunity for students to process with each other.

Tate Myre Funeral:
Monday, 12.6 Visitation 1 to 8pm
Tuesday, 12.7 Visitation 10-12pm and funeral at Noon

Clinton Township Campus

We will be offering a time for our congregation to gather after each service for a time of corporate prayer in the Greatroom. Prayer will be offered at 10:15 am and 12:15 pm. (25000 Hall Rd, Charter Twp of Clinton, MI 48036)

This Sunday at 3:30 pm as a community we want to gather, pray and mourn together. We are all looking for answers and wondering why tragedy happens but we can find hope and peace in Jesus. 

Troy Campus

Join us Sunday night, December 5th for a Community Prayer Vigil at Kensington Church at 6:00 pm. Invite friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to come together for a time of hope and prayer. 

Following the Vigil, at 7:00 pm, there will be breakouts for students and for parents to process and be equipped in caring for themselves and those around in times of tragedy.

Marriage Classes

What grows marriages? Focusing on the two of you and being in community!
The Marriage Course includes seven sessions, designed to help couples invest in their relationship and build a strong marriage. Some couples do the course to intentionally invest in their relationship, others are looking to address more specific challenges. Either way, the course offers essential tools and practical ideas to help you build a relationship that lasts a lifetime. The Marriage Course is based on Christian principles but designed for all couples with or without a church background.

Please email marriage@kensingtonchurch.org with any questions.

Financial Compass

Financial Compass is designed to help you discover the freedom found in wisely managing the resources God provides. To find out more, please email discipleship@kensingtonchurch.org.

Bible Basics

Whether you are brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for decades, Bible Basics is a course that will help you understand the overall flow of the Bible. Over the course of several weeks, learn how the Bible came from the original writers to the English versions we have today. We’ll look at the big-picture story of the Bible and how all the individual books add to the whole. We’ll even learn a little about the history of the Jewish nation. But most of all, we’ll grow in our awe of the amazing author of this amazing book!

Please email discipleship@kensingtonchurch.org with any questions.

Clarkston

Clinton Twp

Orion

Troy

Alpha

What is my purpose? What value does the Bible have in my life? How do I pray? How can I grow in confidence to share my faith? These are the big questions that are at the heart of what it means to have a relationship with God. Alpha is a space to explore life’s big questions, to say what you think and to hear other people’s points of view. Over ten-weeks you will explore and discover while listening to weekly topics, participating in table discussion, and developing community. Alpha courses meeting in-person gather around a meal.

You don’t have to come for the whole series—just check it out for the first session and see what you think. No pressure.

Please email discipleship@kensingtonchurch.org with any questions.

Registration coming soon!

Birmingham

Clinton Twp

Orion

Traverse City

Troy

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