Undeniably we are influenced by our environment and what we repeatedly see. Actually your body, your spouse, your children and your home are blessings from our creator but how we take care of them shows true gratitude to God for giving them to us.

Your personal hygiene is very important as it forms a standard and shows in the way you take care of your environment too. In marriage, you are the last face your spouse sees at night and the first him or her sees in the morning. What memory of you would you want your spouse to have?

Remember in marriage, your spouse is already attracted to you and you must enhance the appeal by how tidy, clean and desirable you package yourself always. It’s work my dear, but work with amazing rewards.

TIPS FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE

1.      Eliminate all odour (body and mouth) brush twice a day morning and evening. After the days’ work, have a shower at night. Also after heavy cooking especially for the women have a refreshing clean bath. Applying a body spray would help.

2.      Wear clean and well fitted clothes (women should please avoid tying wrappers remember your man in the course of his work sees ladies dressed corporately and attractively always.

Your environment is also very important and both spouses must work collectively to maintain a clean and tidy environment. The home front if kept dirty would attract insects, roaches, pests and expose everyone in the house to illness. Improper waste disposal and dirty gutters can foster the spread of diseases.

The home is a nest, a place of comfort and refreshing, but if kept perpetually untidy would look like a market where each of the spouse would not be enthusiastic to come back to. it is a big turn-off and there would be no sexual intimacy in such an environment. Apart from keeping the home clean and orderly, occasionally lighting the bedroom with candles, lining up petals and soft music would bring out the best in you both.

Children raised up in dirty environment turn out unkept, rowdy and even dirty. They would naturally live out what they have seen in their parents. It is not enough to stay passive while blaming your spouse for your dirty environment, what have you done to improve the situation? You could hire a househelp, get a housekeeper that comes and goes after cleaning up the home or simply make yourself available to help your spouse and share the duties.

Remember your body is the temple of God, why treat it otherwise? You are called to have dominion over the earth, the least you can do is to keep your environment clean.

Culled from KMA Magazine 2016 – “The Wholesome You”

Dr. Richard Okonkwo
Co-founder Keeping Marriage Alive Initiative