| Nurturing Relationships Nurturing implies promoting growth, sustaining with nutriments, supporting, maintaining, protecting and nourishing. These are crucial elements for any relationship. A plant that receives no nourishment, wilts and dies, never reaching its full potential. Likewise, a child or spouse that lives without affirmation and loving support, soon becomes undernourished in their spirits. Steps in nurturing Learn to listen with your heart. Respond, don't react. Take time with loved ones. Speak kindly to others. Lead by example. Have times of fun. Emphasize respect for others. Cultivate joy and laughter in the home. Look for the good in each other. Encourage giftings and character qualities your spouse and kids have. Recognize your differences-and that's OK: God created you that way. Verbalize your approval and love. What prevents nurturing Continual criticism. Negative attitudes. Anger. Dissatisfaction. Moodiness. Breaking each other down. Lack of physical affection. Not taking an interest in who your loved ones are. Never telling them you love them... Spiritual Nurturing God is the most loving Nurturer in the whole Universe! We can model our lives after Him and the way He nurtures each of us.
The word nourish stems from Middle English nurishen noteros which means damp, and Sanskrit snauti which means it drips. In Is.45:8 it says "Drip down, O heavens, from above...let the clouds pour down righteousness... I, the LORD, have created it."
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