Thursday, March 13, 2008

Praying for our Husbands - Day 13

Today I am praying that I would build-up my husband through my words, actions, and even in my thoughts.

I was having lunch with a friend the other day at our local fast food restaurant. While our two little tykes ran up and down the play area, we spent the majority of our conversation on the topic of our husband's love languages. We quickly discovered that both men had the same primary and secondary language. I think we spent the remainder of our visit laughing at all the similarities in the things that minister to our husbands and speak love to them.

It is important that I pray for my husband daily, but it is also important that I build him up (or speak his language). Proverbs 31:11-12 says, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life."

I know that I am doing him good when I pray for him, but am I doing him harm in other ways?

This is the question that I often ask myself. As a result I came up with a short list of things "to do him good."

1. Send or email him a note, just because. Before the days of email, I would occasionally mail him a fun card to his office. He loved displaying them.

2. Listen to him without interrupting

3. Call him at his place of work just to say, “I love you!”

4. Let him know that you are proud of him. We are good at complimenting our husbands to others, but fail to tell them directly.

5. Tell him you are going to rub his back, or whatever…and then do it as planned

6. Buy his favorite snack, or drink and have it ready for him when he comes home. My husband loves a cold coffee drink. I don't buy them all the time, but occasionally I'll surprise him.

7. Do the one chore you always ask him to do for you without saying anything, maybe several times. Just because! For example: take the trash out, get the
car washed, or return the movies.

8. Provide a peaceful place of rest for him by encouraging him to relax and watch his favorite movie or provide a quiet place for him to finish a book.

9. Keep his trust. In other words, never say anything about him to others that would make him uncomfortable or embarrassed.

10. Build him up with your words. When he comes home, greet him! Thank him for all that he does for your family.




7 comments:

Heth said...

These are wonderful ideas Chris. I often this about doing these things and then never actually DO them. Good intentions....

Thanks for the encouragement.

Mocha with Linda said...

Great suggestions. Thanks for the timely reminders!

Linda said...

I really have enjoyed this series of posts Chris. Even after 41 years of marriage, there is much to learn (perhaps I'm just a slooow learner). Right now I am working very hard on the not interrupting thing. I am much quicker on the draw (in other words - a big mouth) and end up speaking before the poor man has finished expressing his thought (or the ever helpful - finishing it for him). I actually have to pray for help in the middle of conversations - but it is getting better.
Wonderful list Chris.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the suggestions, Chris, I need work in this area. After 30 years of married life with 22 of those years focused on home-schooling the kids, I have been trying to improve in this area, especially as the "empty nest" is nearly upon us!

Cyndi said...

SUCH a good post. Thanks so much for this, this is something I've been thinking about lately. What a great series of posts!

Ann said...

I can't thank you enough for posting these "Praying for our Husbands" posts! They are exactly what I need to hear! Thank you, Chris!

Joe said...

It was good to find your blog today and I thought I would say "Hi". I enjoyed reading your encouraging words. I remember you spoke words of encouragement to me years ago as Joe and I were getting married and I still look back on them. If you get a chance you can stop by my blog to see how our family has grown.