For married couples, it may be problematic if you question your spouse's motives. I will not attempt to do that ....but instead I will tell a story, that hopefully will not likewise cause offence.

We have a mantel above our fireplace.  Throughout our marriage we've collected knick-knacks ...and one of the most popular places to collect such treasures, is the mantel.

Like I said earlier, I'm not going to question my 'better-half' on the subject of motives ...whether she gets bored with certain items which lose the favor they once held, or whether she is just trying to keep me alert in my old age.

Now, if she'd put something 'new' there, I'd more likely notice it ...but the other things we take for granted, especially the small things.

On the other hand, if she were to remove one of the bigger things, I'd notice ...like the bed, or the refrigerator. (Of course, not considering myself old, I did just show a tendency ...as I forgot to mention that I am no longer talking about the mantel here, yes, mantel, not mental. And no, I am not talking about the mantel.  No, we do not have our bed, nor our refrigerator on the mantel.)

Of course, there are other big things we don't notice immediately ...like the lawn mower, or the leaf rake.

It really has much to do with what we come most in contact with, what we value, or what sustains us.  Life has its priorities, for sure.  And priorities shift.  Maybe that new little trinket on the mantel won't do the trick, but perhaps a sporty new car will get us to shift.  Or a new set of golf clubs may drive us.

Many things in life are constants ...as in constantly the same. There are only so many hours in a day, and it's always the same ...except that one day in the fall and spring.  So, with our twenty-four hour day, how will we spend those hours?  It may not be totally of our choosing, but we do choose.

The things that occupy most of our day may not be the things we look forward to.  What we enjoy most may be what we have the least time for ...but we do look forward to free time, and we can choose what to do with it.  We may choose to do something nice for someone else during that time, or we can do something for ourselves ...but it's best to put God at the top of our list, feel He is involved in our activity, and strive to have it be well pleasing to Him.  (Yes, God is always there to be involved ...we just are not always mindful of it.)

And your spouse should get some of that time ...not making them feel they've been put on the shelf too.