Some days it really does feel like Groundhog Day and I tire of cleaning again and again. It can become monotonous and quite frankly boring. It is at these times, the idea of hiring a cleaner seems appealing.

Like most women I love having a sparkling kitchen and bathroom. It is such a shame that my children do not share my sentiments! They are guaranteed to drop pieces of food with every meal – oh and spill drinks every now and then! By nature, I have very little tolerance for mess, however I have learnt to allow my children to eat and drink freely with the intention of cleaning as they finish.

A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”

She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”

The elements of the blessing are not just limited to the parent/child relationship. We feel strongly that they can be found at the heart of any healthy relationship.

We've discovered just how valuable applying the five elements of the blessing can be to important relationships besides those with our children. Let's look at how the blessing can and should be given to a spouse and the relationship gains that can happen as a result.