Today’s guest post is brought to you by Kasey of These Five of Mine Plus Two.
The most vital of all earthy relationships is the marriage. Yet, it is one that finds itself too easily pushed onto the back burner. The demands and pressures of the average life make marriages very susceptible to death by neglect. I hit up my husband for some ideas to keep the matrimonial pulse strong. Here are his Top 10:
- Read through a book together. We enjoy choosing a book that interests us both and reading a little each night before bed. You’ll find an added bonus if the selection is of the spiritual variety! Journeying with God together brings an added sweetness!
- Take a midnight walk. Okay, let’s be realistic. Not many of us are still awake at midnight, but a stroll through the dark exudes mystery and romance. Use the time to chat quietly about hopes and dreams, or be playful and make your own fun! Kids at home? Take advantage of visiting grandparents or other overnight guests.
- Stick a note in his lunch sack. My husband loves little reminders that he is on my mind and in my heart, even when he is away from home. A short, sweet note can speak volumes and make him anticipate his homecoming all the more.
- Take him shopping. What? Your husband hates shopping, you say? But what if you give him free reign to pick an outfit out for YOU? My hubby never complains about what I wear, but I know my style isn’t necessarily what he’d choose for me. Your guy may grab any old thing off the rack for himself, but I have a hunch he might put a little more thought into it if he were choosing for you!!
- Learn something together. Does he enjoy wood working while you’d love to have a new kitchen table? Work together to design something you both would enjoy and then join efforts to get ‘er done! Not only could you end up with more than an awesome dining set (or whatever project you choose) but you’ll learn a whole lot about each other as you work side by side! And who knows, sawdust in your hair might be his preferred look for you!
- Be interested in what he’s passionate about! Does he love trucks? Or horses? Or even his job? Those things may not be at the top of your list of interests, but investing yourself in the things that grab his attention keeps you at the center of his world. To me, that’s a pretty good trade-off!
- Reclaim those parts of you that first attracted him. We all change as life takes us off in new directions and on different paths. But surely there were things that got the two of you started that somehow got lost in the mix. Resurrect a little bit of your old self and add a little spark to the “you” he loves now! But beware, those sparks just might start a fire!
- Send him off to do something he loves. Does he have hobbies or passions that have been curbed for the sake of the family? Go ahead and give him wings to explore those areas! He’ll return to you empowered by your selfless love and encouragement! And a happy man tends to work to make his woman happy, too!
- Keep a journal. We have a leather-bound notebook where we write notes back and forth to each other. Some days the notes are long. Others are just a line or two. Either way, they encourage open communication. I love when I see that book laying in the center of our bed, and he feels the same. Sometimes it’s the little things!
- Pray for him! This really should be at the top of the list, but I thought I’d leave it as my final thought. There is no way to measure the blessing of a wife that keeps her husband covered in prayer. Pray specifically for areas where you know he struggles, or for things close to his heart. Pray earnestly…and often!
