Show your wife plenty of love because nothing contributes more to her understanding of your words, than convincing her they come out of love and are filled with love.

And how will you show her your love? Saying for instance: “I chose you because I like your character, cleverness, wisdom, kindness and purity. Because I have learned to undervalue fortune as something fruitless. […] I love the virtue of your soul, whom I prefer instead of other type of richness.”

A wise girl living in piety, deserves more than the world. This is why I have loved you and I still do, and I value you more than my life. Life on earth is in vain, so I pray to God that through our life to become worthy of spending together the eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Because life on earth is short and temporary, but if we try to live it according to God’s will, we will be always with Christ delighting in unspeakable joy.”

(Translated from Sfântul Ioan Gură de Aur, Problemele vieții, Editura Egumenița, Galați, 2007, p. 116)