"occasion to feel thus. You perform the necessary duties devolving upon you as head of the family, but there is a lack. There is a serious lack of love's precious influence which leads to kindly attentions. Love should be seen in the looks and manners, and heard in the tones of the voice. 2T 417.2"
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"
The EGW passage directly addresses the husband's lack of love and affection, echoing the principle of husbands loving their wives as commanded in Ephesians 5:25.