My husband and I celebrated six years of marriage this week.
It has been a beautiful and yet stretching six years. Three adorable babies. Two homes, a new business, started a blog (which very rapidly become a family ministry since my hubby is web manager and my biggest cheer leader!), my husband became worship director and deacon in our church, and so much more. I have been blessed to enjoy the trials and joys of life along side my very best friend.
I am so thankful for my husband.
This man that I am privileged to serve the Lord alongside is passionate about serving others. He loves playing with his kids and leading them in family devotions so patiently and graciously even when they are wiggly and struggle sitting still. He prays for them many a night before bed time, singing the Doxology over them as he kisses them goodnight. He takes them on walks regularly one on one to be able to invest quality time with them. He plays wrestling games, builds forts, and reads stories to them inside. He faithfully takes me on dates every other week and gives me multiple hugs, kisses, and “I love you’s” throughout every passing day. He loves opening our home in hospitality and can make a mean hamburger or steak on the barbecue. He’s supportive of all my crazy new adventures in the kitchen and around our house. He keeps my blog going and solves every problem. He is the most committed husband imaginable. I am confident in my heart that he would die before ever leaving me. And all of this amidst working 12+ hour days. But to be perfectly honest…many of these practices have only started in the last six months, since God started changing my own heart from focusing on demanding to be served to serving.
I’ll be the first to tell you he’s not perfect. He has a tendency to leave his clothes everywhere. He rarely makes it to the dinner table on time. He’s likely never vacuumed a floor or cleaned a toilet in our home since the day we were married. He is a bit infrequent on buying me flowers or sending me a mushy love note. His love for computers and technology leads to splurges on all sorts of little gadgets. These are the little things that used to drive me crazy. These were the little annoyances that would easily build a wall of bitterness in my heart. It would build up over time only to come out in a truckload of tears and desperation that got me nowhere. It all depends upon what you choose to focus on.
When my husband first quit his job earlier this year and started on this new business endeavor I fought tooth and nail against his commitment to work overtime, nights and weekends to get the business launched. I wanted “our” time together. I pressed and nagged him on the importance of balancing his priorities. I honestly was often teary eyed as he went off to his office. Ultimately, I did not support him very well. And I could sense very quickly the impact this made on him. He was more gloomy, discouraged, and depressed as a result. He pulled back rather than pressed into our relationship.
It was when God graciously opened my eyes to see the beautiful potential that a woman has to influence her husband to accomplish great things for God, and when I learned that I had the power in my hand to build him up or tear him down, that I began to see things differently. A wife can be the greatest good or the greatest destruction to her man. Her nagging and discontentment can be the ruin of any marriage. I needed to focus on changing my own heart first rather than focusing on all his shortcomings. I needed to start taking my eyes off of what he was not doing and start thanking him for all that he was doing.
When I started seeking to serve my hubby instead of demanding to be served, that God has transformed our marriage into the most glorious of unions. It was when I started getting creative every week in thinking of some way to bless him through a love note, text message, word of encouragement, or small act of service instead of just waiting for him to express it to me, that our love has blossomed and deepened in greater ways then I would have ever imagined. I wiped down his BBQ one week, or washed his car another, or simply brought in the trash cans from the curb on another day. I bought some special new sexy undergarments, or his favorite candy bar or snack. He is easy to serve. He’s not picky. Most guys aren’t. I don’t have any excuse not to show this man that he means the world to me. I’m reminded of the bible verse…”Where your treasure is…there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) It applies to marriage just as much as to money. If I invest my time and energy into this man, my heart will follow…and the love and sparks will stay alive!
When I started expressing my thankfulness for every simple thing he did to contribute, for the small things of simply taking out the trash, watching the kids for an hour or two while I did errands, or praising him for the hard work he was doing on the lawn, that he has started to take more initiative to get involved in our family in ways I never dreamed possible (as described above). He started initiating in leading family devotions, and praying over the kiddos before bedtime.
I’d watch him tending the lawn, and get frustrated that he was spending too much time out there instead of being with his family. Then the light came on…this is therapeutic for him. He finds it restful. It gives him a little more exercise and fresh air. Why not get out there with him? I am not a fan of gardening, but I could tell my husband really did desire our lawn to look nice, so I decided to get out and get dirty. I started weeding and getting my hands dirty. And you know what? I’m really enjoying it and my hubby is quite proud of my work…especially when visitors take notice. 
I love this man more deeply than words can express. And you know what…this week he surprised me with my favorite chai beverage concentrate and a bouquet of my favorite lilies. He has been starting to express his appreciation more faithfully for all the little things I do. I think it’s working.
I’m married to a steady man, cautious, thoughtful, smart, servant-hearted. He may not become a CEO, president, or great philosopher or teacher…but he is the head of our home and he does an incredible job being there to lead and love me when I step back and encourage him in his manliness and leadership. He still has all the shortcomings I mentioned above, but I’m learning to see that picking up his clothes after him is one little way that I can serve him, one little way to be his helpmeet.
I’m praising God for my man. He loves me just the way I am. He doesn’t care that three pregnancies has taken its toll on my physical body. He actually thinks they make me more beautiful.
How can you thank the Lord for your hubby today? How can you express thankfulness to your man in a practical way this week? Make a list of 10 things you admire about your husband (or those 10 things you loved about him before you got married) and use it as a reference point every time you get frustrated. It’s never too late. Get down on your knees. Pray for grace and creativity to love your man. Sure…he’s undeserving. But so are we. You and I are desperately undeserving of the beautiful grace and forgiveness that Jesus Christ purchased on our behalf on the cross. Let’s embrace it and let God shine beautifully through our marriages as we seek to show love and affirm the man that God has given us.
I’m looking forward to many more years to come…
Photos taken by my lovely sister, Christa Taylor. If you live in the Portland metro area and you are in need of some photography services, please check her out!
Thank you for this post and for the site. I have often assumed that your husband was “perfect”, so I appreciate your honesty. My husband is also an entrepreneur and we have 3 young kids, so I can definitely relate. It’s so easy for both men and women to get things out of balance. Thanks for encouraging us women to be more like Christ, and serve/uplift our husbands rather than nagging and becoming bitter.
This might be your best post ever
I have shared it with many friends and they were all blown away, thanks for sharing – it is clear that you have helped so many people all around the world.
We just celebrated 31 years and your post was just what I needed to read as well. So as you can see marriage is always a bit or work but so rewarding. Sometimes just a change in mind set is all we need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I cried too
Hi Lindsay!
Great post! I have a question about your husband though…if he was not leading, working all his free time, not investing in his family, and not helping out around the house, was there any godly man from his church challenging him? It seems like he waited until you changed so that he changed but was he pursuing any change at all before that? If he’s a deacon, I’m assume he was cared for by other men, right? I’m just asking these questions because I’m afraid he’ll think you were the problem and once you changed then he could finally be a good husband. Am I wrong?
Love,
Angel
Let me just clarify that my husband was doing many of those things, just not everything I listed or the level of involvement was there but limited. He is in an accountability relationship with three other guys in the church and is certainly being challenged to be a leader and head in our home. He has desired that but always struggled to find the balance and knowing how to do it. Through my service to him and encouraging him in his roles, it has made it that much easier for him to desire and actively pursue being the leader of our home in more tangible ways. He certainly knows that I am not the problem (as we are all equally sinners), but I can certainly be a hinderance to bringing change in his heart or giving him the ability to lead if I am nagging and complaining or fighting his leadership. Does that make sense?
He keeps telling me since I have started making it more of a habit to encourage and build him up and serve him in practical ways…that it just makes him want to be a better husband and father. He has said it many times and I see it starting to grow him in more ways than one.
Wow. This was like looking into a mirror of all the thoughts that have gone through my head during my second year of marriage. My husband’s clothes all over the place (and really, just things in general!) has always made me bitter. But it was convicting to be reminded that God has graciously given ME so much more….so the LEAST I can do is help my husband in the little ways that he is weak. How would I feel if all he did was concentrate on a couple little things that I failed on?
My husband is also a tech geek, so i completely understand
He has no idea why I would spend money on books. Lol.
Lindsay, thank you so much for writing this post. Can completely, completely, completely relate (including watching my husband change after I worked on myself first) and was both convicted and encouraged.
Such a great post! I am on a smilar journey and appreciate your sweet honesty.
Love this post. Not a fan of gardening either but that is a great idea. Thanks for being honest about your heart and how God is working in your marriage. It inspires me to let Christ work. With little ones sometimes I barely feel able to “serve” him in the little extras ways like he does for me. Your practical ideas and testimony of change are so encouraging. And by the way, I am dying to see photos from your sister’s wedding. I know it’s this next month, but I am just so excited. I hope you will post some after the big day!
Lindsay, thanks so much for this post. I need some advice though, from you or anyone else here please. I love my husband dearly, he does contribute to our household a lot, and he works a lot. I am very thankful for him and all he does! I feel so guilty though, because he is a good man, but I often feel alone and lonely. He is a very busy and focused person, and I feel like a ‘follower’. There is not much of him left at the end of the day. He is a dedicated and passionate person, but now as his wife I am not something he needs to pursue, not a goal anymore. I also wish he would take a stronger spiritual lead in our family…
I am striving to be a godly wife. I have my bad days and complaints for sure, but for the most part I am pretty encouraging and respectful I think. I leave him notes, text him during the day, I listen to his concerns and excitement about work, and try to be involved. I don’t know what I am doing wrong…he seems almost unresponsive to these things. Do I need to do something else? I know he loves me, without a doubt. But please, I am at a loss. I have prayed about it, and yes, tried talking to him. Maybe I am not expressing myself right. Any advice from some godly ladies would be much appreciated.
Dear Velvet,
May I encourage you to continue to seek the Lord. He is faithful to hear our cry and prayers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to grant you wisdom into the needs of your husband and how you can effectively seek to bring good to his life. I know personally, that God has been so gracious in giving me insight into all these ideas I have used for strengthening our marriage. He has been my source and guide every step of the way. Don’t neglect to pray for your husband as well. The 31 day prayer guide is a wonderful resource that I use daily. Your husband will be different from mine and may need a different method. YOu might ask him out right, “how can I serve you?” or “what one thing could I do to bring more peace and rest into our home?” or “How can I help you this week?” or “Is there something I am doing that you feel is unsupportive?” I think if you start asking questions, you might be surprised at his responses. And when he responds with a suggestion, do it. Try to find a way to get on his team, always starting with what you can do to help him. He may not respond with anything for awhile, and you may just have to keep graciously asking, but over time, I believe he will start opening up as he sees your faithful persistence and desire to really serve him. Be sincere. Ultimately, trust the Lord, be faithful in continuing to support your husband, and wait. Never stop praying. God will lead you sister. I am praying right now for grace and peace to pour over you.
I highly recommend the book 5 languages of love. It’s about doing what’s important to your spouse, or what makes them feel loved. What you’re doing probably isn’t his love language if it doesn’t seem to be helping. It has worked wonders for my husband and I!
Thanks for this post! Women have a deep need for love and most want it to be shown in a romantic way. But most of our men just have no idea how to go about it. That’s when we can step up and show them what we mean. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Thank you for this post! My husband and I will be celebrating our 6th anniversary in a few weeks, and I have felt in a rut. I know that nagging hasn’t helped him be a better husband, and it has not helped me be a better wife. Whenever people (bloggers, etc.) Give marital advice, I tend to think “That’s easy for you to say, you’re married to someone who does _____.” When you listed the good qualities of your husband, I thought “No wonder they have such a great marriage, her husband is perfect.” But when I kept reading, I was convicted. This post was exactly what I needed lately. It is the straw that is about to break the camel’s back! I have known for some time that I needed to take action for my marriage, and this post is what will finally motivate me to do it! Thank you for letting God use you in such huge ways!
Excellent! Reminds me a little of the Love Dare.
Thank you! As a wife you definitely need a reminder like this everyone and a while.
Great Post! It is a wonderful blessing to have a Godly marriage.
It’s so rare to see a wife speak is such loving, respectful, and kind terms about her husband, thank you!!
I love this! Thanks for taking the time to post such a lovely reminder of how I can better serve in my own marriage too!
Thank you for this encouraging post… I needed the encouragement today.
t build up my husband, and not tear him down 
this is beautiful….i have a similar story! my husband left his job almost 4 years ago now. at the time i strongly encouraged this move. over the past 4 years things have been difficult, or atleast seemed that way. we moved to a new home 2 years ago and i noticed my hubby getting depressed. in the process of 2 years i begged God to heal him. last month i was doing a fast and God so vividly spoke to me that i resented my husband and then began to reveal resentment after resentment….it was horrible, because i loved him deeply. BUT, i confessed to God and then went in and confessed to my husband and asked for his forgiveness. it was a beautiful time and has made me view him and our relationship much differently!
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been married for 3.5 years and I really needed this reminder today.
Lindsay, I loved this post! This is all so true, I have seen it in action in my 16 years of marriage. But I needed the reminder so thank you. I am also married to a steady man, Sounds like your husband has some visionary in him too.
Beautiful post and what an opportunity you have here to bless your husband by sharing this with so many!
On a side note, has anyone every told your husband he kinda looks like Bon Jovi, lol?
Nickole
Your transparency is beautiful. I have experienced the same thing!
Funny story, I wrote him a letter telling him how much I appreciate him and mailed it to his office as a surprise. He thanked me but let me know that all mail gets opened before it gets to individuals desks! I guess the office administrator knows how great he is too!
Tara @ Simply Made Home
Lovely post Lindsay!!!!!
Well said, Lindsay. I can truly testified to what you have shared. I was once so self righteous & tend to see my husband through the lens of a critique. That changed when I learnt of the Lord’s love for everyone despite our shortfalls. With that change, I am more receptive & supportive of my husband. In turn, it gradually strengthen our relationship. Thanks for your sharing. God bless.
Wonderful post. Thankfully I grew up in a home where my mom taught me *so* much about this type of thing and it is something that women desperately need to hear. It isn’t something you just learn once and then you’re good to go. We Christian women need to be encouraging one another in these areas. Words can’t even describe the difference it can make in a marriage. Keep letting Christ speak through you Lindsay!
thank you!
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now. I did not grow up in a household with the type of excellent womanhood you are modeling for your daughters, and this space has been an incredibly valuable tool for me as I make up for time not well-spent. My husband and I are in our fourth year of marriage, and I am only now realizing the power of being a Christlike wife *without words*. I am convinced the Holy Spirit knew what He was about when He gave Peter that choice of phrasing!
I am starting Stormie Omaritan’s The Power of a Praying Wife this week. Your post is a timely nudge in the right direction.
Aaron, Karis, Titus, and Eden are richly blessed to have you as the heart of their home, and your readers are blessed by you and your family’s generosity and openness. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this inspiring post!
Thank you for this beautifully-phrased and eloquently-written expression of godly womanhood. This is such an encouragement to me this morning, as your blogs so often are. Thank you for this ministry of love!
My husband and I have been married almost 4 years and have a 9 month old baby girl. Tonight we went to bed after a little spat and I really wanted to read something encouraging, because I hate this about our marriage, so immediately your blog popped in to my head and this was your last post. As some of your other readers mentioned, I started off reading your list and had a twinge of jealousy as I heard about the wonderful things your husband does and how he treats you, then as I continued reading I was so convicted! I desire so badly for my husband to take a spiritual leadership role in our family by leading devotions and praying with our kids, to treat me well, have patience, appreciate me etc. but I think all that needs to start with me – my complaining hasn’t worked so far, and I don’t think that will change anytime soon. Thank you for your post. So much.
This post brought tears to my eyes and it felt like you were writing about my marriage. We’ll be celebrating 6 yrs of marriage & 10 yrs together, this July. We’ve had many rough years because I’ve been stuck in the criticizing/demanding role. This post gave me the shift in perspective I needed by reminding me to be thankful for him. So thankful for your post being put in front of me 3 times =o)
Celebrated 16 yrs of marriage this week, and unfortunately many of them with me in the critical/demanding-to-be-served mindset. We’ve gone through some tough things in our marriage though, and I am so thankful for the healing God’s brought to us. We’re about to enter a new phase–my husband is returning to school to pursue a different career. Honestly I’ve been kind of dreading it, anticipating the time crunch we’ll be under and the responsibilities of five kids falling more on me. Thanks for this post, as I can enter this phase instead with a purposeful attitude of being his helpmeet.
Totally made me cry. Really spoke to my heart. Thank you.
Thank you for these extremely powerful and truthful words. God used this post to meet me in a time of need and softened my heart towards my husband to begin reconciliation. It always brings so much hope to hear how God has been growing and strengthening marriages and homes!
Lindsay, I’ve been a fan of your blog for a couple years now. What a great post! I can totally identify with being critical of the little things my husband does sometimes and not focusing on the MANY things he does so well. Thank you for the encouragement you give women through your blog to love Christ, our husbands and our children!
This really resonates with me. I’ve only been married two years, so I obviously still have a long way to go, but I spent the entire first year operating from the husband-critical perspective. Toward the beginning of year two I had a similar experience of being convicted to support my husband in his goals and affirm him in whatever leadership roles he was willing to take…otherwise I began to see that our marriage would be a very long and difficult road of unequal partnership — with me always calling the shots, doing the nagging, and basically stifling him instead of encouraging him to grow. Thanks for your transparency and wise words!
amazing tribute to your husband. What an encouragement to women everywhere about how they should treat their husbands and be servants in a true and meaningful manner. Wow. I am so blessed by this.
Thank you for setting the example of honoring your husband well. It brought tears to my eyes and convicted me greatly!
We’ve been married for 16 years this year! Whoa! Hardly seems possible! The challenges are the same though. I have learned the same lessons and still… I keep on learning them.
Thanks for the reminder!
And congratulations on your discovery!
I’m from Portland, OR! We visit as often as we can and LOVE it!!
amy in peru
fisheracademy.blogspot.com
God works in mysterious ways. How incredible that I should stumble on exactly what I needed to hear while looking for something completely unrelated.
Your words hit me like a good dousing of ice water and I am quite ashamed of myself. What a little hypocrite I have been. Thank you so much for reminding me that he needs to be taken care of too.
Congratulations on six years
Thanks so much for this post. A friend posted the link on Facebook; it’s my first time on your blog. I was so encouraged to read your love and appreciation for your husband, and the joy and blessing of your marriage. It’s easy to get jaded and discouraged hearing the negative stuff, and it brings a lot of hope to hear your story (and learn from you). Thanks!
Reading your post was like reading my diary. I recently changed my behavior to my husband from expecting to be served to serving and it has done so many great things for our marriage. To be honest, it saved my marriage. We are still working through the years of demanding to be served but I know in my heart and in God’s will that things can only get better. Thank you for sharing. It is so inspiring to hear how wonderful your marriage has become.
Your honesty is very encouraging! This makes me want to do a better job. Hubby and I are going through the meaning of marriage from your recommendation- thank you! We will also be celebrating six years with three kids and two homes
So glad to hear you are reading Meaning of Marriage…the more I read of this book the richer my understanding of the beauty God designed for marriage to be. It’s so deep and sweet at the same time.
I just read a devotional yesterday that talked about how we often get knit-picky with our spouses when we see things in them that reflect our own sinful nature. It sounds like working on yourself, sacrificing, and serving, have remedied those issues. Very thought-provoking and inspiring!
Lindsay,
You are a woman of God, and your husband is blessed! It brought tears in my eyes to read how you are able to see beyond the faults. Husbands also need affection, affirmation & attention. A little dose of encouragement & healthy respect and honor, can help them become the men, they ought to be. Thank you for this article.
God Bless!
When I started reading your post I immediately grew discouraged. I hate reading laundry lists of what other husbands do. I have a wonderful Christian husband who is a leader of our family and I could enumerate dozens of little particulars that he does to serve us, just like you did. But immediately when I start reading the little details of someone else’s married life I begin to compare and struggle with envy.
This isn’t a criticism though! I love how you followed up that paragraph with your reality that of course your husband too has his areas that bother you, and you’ve realized you can’t demand things from him and expect a happy marriage. I love how you said you started to focus on serving him instead. (Although I think you could have left out the “sexy undergarments” part… TMI!
It is so hard as a mom of very young children (I have a 27-month-old and a 7-month-old) not to become demanding of our husbands’ help with the kids and time spent one-on-one. So this post was so encouraging to let that go, trust the Lord, and thank Him daily for what truly amazing husbands he’s blessed us with. Sometimes I think too I really do lose perspective on what a great husband I have. The world is filled with truly terrible husbands (and wives) and collapsing marriages… how grateful I should be for my godly and affectionate man, even if he doesn’t initiate dates or bring me flowers quite as often as I’d like.
Thanks for sharing Anna. I added that “sexy undergarments” because I think we all need to be challenged in the area of buying a few new lingerie items more regularly. Keep the honeymoon going. It is a great way to serve our hubbys and build our marriages.
Lindsay,Thank you so much for this wonderful post. This is something that I have been struggling with lately. I want so much to show my love to him but find that I am picking at him instead. I have to say that I am very blessed to have a hubby that DOES vaccum the floors. I am trying to work on my thankfulness to him for that. He does NOT have to but, does because he loves me and want to help.
Thank you for sharing that I am not the only one out here who needs to work on her heart!
Happy anneversary to both of you!
I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 19 years. What you wrote is absolutely true! It is key to a successful and blessed marriage. May God continue to bless your family and your ministry.
Happy anniversary!
Your comments on using his positive qualities to recebter your focus reminded me of “By Love Refined” by Alice Von Hildebrand. She addresses many different challenges in married life, but reminds women to remember their Tabor vision of their husbands, their truest self. Just as Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’s glory in a special way on Mt. Tabor, wives see their husbands most intimately. I highly recommend the book.
This was so wonderful! Thank you for taking time to share!
Your beautifully written post was such an encouragement to read this morning. After 30 happy years of marriage to my beloved, I can attest to the fact that God will grow a marriage as husband and wife strive to please Him in their attitudes and actions towards one another. We are all unlovely and undeserving, yet God in His kindness has set His love on His people and graciously works in them to make them more like Christ. May He continue to strengthen your love for each other as you seek to serve Him in your marriage.
This was a very powerful post. I needed to hear that this morning and always! Thank you!
We just had our three-year anniversary amidst having a new baby in the house. I have been struggling so badly with wanting my husband to serve me better, so I desperately needed to hear this today. Thank you for the encouragement to SERVE!
Lindsay,
Well said. Very well said. It’s uncanny how similar our experiences seem to be, like we’re learning the same lessons at the same times! I too have been struggling with being too nagging and building up discontentment over the things my husband doesn’t do, instead of focusing on and praising him for what he does do.
My husband is also a steady, cautious, quieter man, that I am, by God’s grace, slowly learning how to serve better.
I have found that when I start feeling resentment about all his flaws, that it really helps to start reading through some of the letters from women in Created to be His Help Meet (which I know you’ve read) and realize, boy howdy, am I lucky (blessed) to be married to such a wonderful God-fearing man! I love how she explains the three types of men. It’s so very helpful to reread whenever I need an attitude check.
Thank you for your honesty Lindsay and for honoring your husband, it’s refreshing to hear about the real struggles of marriage along with the gratitude for the many blessings it brings!
This is so true, Lindsay! I had the very same revelation in my marriage. I was so focused on myself and what I wanted/needed that I wasn’t giving my wonderful husband the same attention. God has refreshed my heart, our marriage and our parenting in ways I didn’t even know we needed. By simply (isn’t it always such a simple thing that our minds complicate) putting Him first and really living out the gospel, by grace, I’m now free to love my husband! Thank you!
How beautiful, I love your post. We have been married since 1977 and still havn’t been were you are today. Hope you and Hubbie the best now and the future.
Congrats on 6 years of marriage so far! We will celebrate our 6th anniversary this fall. I especially appreciate this post–how you start out with specific and abundant praise and then explain the reality that it hasn’t always been that way or you don’t always appreciate these things as you should. A big encouragement to me to do more serving and loving of my hubby instead of the tendancy to selfishly expect him to serve first. Thanks for sharing honestly! May God continue to bless your marriage!!
I happend upon your blog tonight and have been greatly enjoying looking through your posts. Your heart for marriage, motherhood and homemaking is refreshing. As someone much older than yourself
I look forward to learning from you more! Many blessings to you and your family.
Wow… I love when I ask God direction for something and bam – He lays it all out. Thank you for following Him and being an example to others. This is exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the right time.
Have you read the Help Meet book by Debi Pearl?! Sounds like you got it girl!!
You are a wise and blessed woman!
Congratulations on six years!! Thank you SO MUCH for writing this post…I was in tears reading it, it was exactly what I needed to hear today!! It was definitely a “God thing” for me to read it today! Thank you so much for being such a Godly encouragement to other women, wives, and mothers!
We are in our 50′s and will be celebrating 7 years of marriage this year. We’ve had some ups and downs, however the more I invest in my husband, by serving, appreciating and helping, the richer our marriage becomes. When I truly “treasure” my husband he knows it and he totally radiates. Thanks for your awesome blog and may you celebrate many more blessed years of marriage!
Loved this post! Thank you. It is rare when someone is so honest about the faults in themselves and their marriage. It is so necessary to help others though!! Instead if reading it and feeling like we can never measure up, we see ourselves in your marriage. And your choosing the higher way gives us hope! Thank you for being real and transparent. You blessed and encouraged me.
So true! Thanks so much Lindsay!
I’ve been dealing with the same issues lately, and the thought that keeps coming to me as I fight to suppress those ugly words (or am wishing to unsay them) is this; “Why do I treat him this way if I’m aching to have him closer?? I wouldn’t want to spend MORE time with someone as grouchy as I am!”
I have had the exact same thoughts about why in the world I respond the way I do when I WANT my husband to be closer!
Thank you so much for expressing this, Lindsay! Just what my heart needed!!
Thank you for such a beautifully worded post! This spoke more to me and taught me more than any 200 pg book on marriage. What an encouragement! Many blessings to you and your family,
I LOVED this post! And not only do we have the same names (though one letter off), and similar-sounding blog names, we seem to have VERY similar hubbies too! When I first started reading, I thought it was a sweet post but in the back of my mind was, “This is the typical anniversary/hubby brag kind of post that lists all the reasons why the author’s hubby is the best guy in the world and no guy could ever measure up…” but then I continued reading and was SO BLESSED by your honesty and perspective. My mom’s group recently did The Husband Project, and it sounds like you have been doing it without realizing it, a little thing here and there to bless him and make his life easier and brighter.
God bless you and congrats on 6 years!
Happy Anniversary, Lindsey! This was a sweet post. Thank you for sharing so honestly!
While packing up for another move in two years, I ran across the 40 notes I wrote to my husband every day before he turned forty, nearly four years ago. (and my precious husband never keeps ANYTHING!) I read many of them, and was freshly filled with joy and gratefulness for this man God has given me as my husband. Of course he is by no means perfect. But God’s Spirit lives in him, and he exibits fruits of the spirit and exemplifies many scriptures. Reviewing those realities rather than focusing on his faults is quite a way to ignite passion, as you shared!
Oh I want to cry! Want a great post. Thank you for the reminder. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of focusing on your husband’s shortcomings instead of praising him for his strengths, encouraging him, and serving him. Our attitude is crucial! I know firsthand, how the marriage can turn sour as a direct result of my attitude, versus how my husband and marriage will flourish – as a direct result of my attitude. Wow. Crazy how that works. I know these things… yet I need constant reminders…
LOVE this post! Our husbands sound oh so similar (computer-techy-gadgety-clothes-on-the-floor-and all)… you have really opened my eyes as to how I am behaving at times. Thank you for writing this! It was beautiful and a wonderful challenge for all of us! Thank you!
Congratulations on six years! How exciting to reach such a milestone
. Next month will be four years for my husband and me! I had to laugh at your husband’s faults that you listed… my husband is a techie guy too, and I think he shares the same flaws as yours 
. But I am so thankful for a hardworking, loving husband who is faithful and a good spiritual leader! It is so important to focus on the good things (like you so aptly stated), and not to get stuck in the self-serving mentality. Praise God for the sanctifying ministry of marriage, the grace and hope that is always there for us in Christ, and that He will complete the good work He’s begun in us! Here’s to many more years of happy marriage 
.
What a beautiful post. I am not married but in one of my favorite classes in Seminary, we discussed this very topic… that sometime’s marriage doesn’t work and the other isn’t doing something quite right or supporting us well. It is truly amazing the work the Lord does when you chose to not nit-pick at the small things but faithful serve both Him and your husband. It seems that without fail, the Lord will work on both of your hearts. The man often comes to realize where he might do a little more because the Lord has gently shown him and I guess I would rather have my husband change because the Lord guided him to do so over changing because of me and my sometimes poor attitude. While I learned about this is A Theology of Intimacy class geared towards the marriage relationship, I have applied it in all my relationships and am amazed at what the Lord does!
Wow, thank you. This is just what I needed. My husband has been working and going to school for the last 3 years, we have 5 kids under 8. I have slowly been getting more bitter and ungrateful, feeling ignored, abandon. I appreciate your words, and congratulations on 6 years of marriage. It will be 10 years for us this Dec.
What a beautiful post! I got all teary-eyed reading this! I love how your affirm your man and praise him for what he does. It’s the little things that we notice that will make our men feel respected as a leader and a husband! We will be celebrating six years this week too
Your site has been such a blessing to me and many others. Thank you, Lindsay!
Aw, happy anniversary to you guys! This is such an encouragement to me. The past 6 months have had ups and downs for my hubby with work, changing jobs, getting ready to change jobs again . . . I’ve also been learning about how my encouragement (or lack thereof) can make or break him. Such a huge responsibility!
Lindsay,
This post left me with tears in my eyes! I love reading these types of posts. My sweet husband is a visionary and commanding kind of guy. Sometimes I can ring his neck, but I really work hard to show him that I love him and he’s the master and commander of our family.
Thank you so much for the reminder!
Im not sure how I got hooked up to your blog but it is very sweet so I keep visiting!
You will find that your biggest blessing in life will come through being the biggest blessing you can to your husband:)
Blessings on your life and family!
Beautiful! I have a steady man too, and it is such a blessing!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for this today. My hubby’s taken on a bit of extra work too that could result in self employment eventually which we both desire. Today I was questioning whether it was worth it or not due to what you mentioned above…I think this is the Lord’s confirmation to just keep encouraging him. I’m excited to see where it will lead us!
Thank you for being so honest in this post! The Lord has been revealing to me the need to stop nit picking every little thing my hubby does, and it’s very difficult to stop. I really appreciated this post, thanks so much for the encouragement!
Just wanted to say Happy Anniversary! My Husband and I also celebrated our anniversary this week, 8 years on May 22. Doesn’t seem that long, but I guess time flies when you’re having fun!
what a lovely uplifting post! Thank you.
Beautiful! Isn’t it amazing how can change THEIR hearts with encouragement? Great post! Happy Anniversary!
Very helpful!! I often think- if I wasn’t here my husband would appreciate what I do more, but then I think, if he wasn’t here I think I would be the one missing out most. It’s always good to be reminded to appreciate the hubby and do the little things that he appreciates
what a beautiful post. Thank you for the reminder and challenge
My husband and I will celebrate 10 years this July! Four states, a new country (now in Montreal), a dog, and two young kids…so many ups and downs, of course.
Reminders such as those in this post are so important and appreciated. I was recently working so hard to focus on the positives and to show my husband my love (I was inspired after reading Carolyn Mahaney’s Feminine Appeal), but then gradually and unintentionally stopped for no good reason. Things have been tough for us lately, so thank you for this reminder to love my man…to lift him up!
God bless you!
Rebecca
Great post on a timeless truth of marriage…”give & it will be given to you, pressed down & flowing over” is what I always think of! I’ve gone through this transformation several times…seems like every time we have a new infant I have to remind myself of this when the babe is 6 mo or so.
Thank you so much for your honesty. I very much need a change of heart, similar to what you described. I’m blessed by your transparency and openness!
I just celebrated 7 years this week! Thanks for this lovely post.