I hurt my wife's feelings not too long ago. The words I spoke were legitimate, my grammar and diction were accurate, but I found out later it was the tone of my voice that hurt. And when she told me I hurt her feelings, my feelings were hurt because she didn't understand my good intentions!

I'll tell you this: it's not because husbands cannot communicate well, but it's because they usually do not communicate well. There's a desperate need for communication skills that lead to good, intimate conversation in the home! More often than not, it is incompetence in communication that drives husbands and wives to divorce court, not a lack of love. The Good Book says, "Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life" (Proverbs 18:21 NLT Ed. 1).

So make the rest of the day work a little better for you ... learn the skill of sensitive and accurate communication, especially with those you love.

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them (Ephesians 4:29).