The days are ticking down to THAT day. The day that card makers and florists will make bank. The day that husbands will feel tremendous pressure and expectation to find the perfect gifts, the perfect card, the perfect bouquet… simply because it’s “that day.”
Don’t get me wrong. I love red roses and chocolate as much as the next girl, but as I’ve grown older (and wiser) I’ve gained new insights about “that day.” Yep, you guessed it, it’s Valentine’s Day. And the pressure. is. on.
Here’s the deal: our love shouldn’t be expressed on one certain day because the media, card makers, florists and expectations say so. Love in marriage should be expressed on the daily, because we WANT to express our love for each other, and we want to honor, uplift and encourage each other. It should be fun and satisfying to show our love to our spouse on any ol’ day and there are many awesome, completely free ways to do it.
So husband… here you go… a list of the things your wife REALLY wants for Valentine’s Day (or any ol’ day) that cannot be bought:
- Your Help: Say to your wife “what can I do to make your day better?” If she tells you something that would indeed make her day better, do it with a happy heart. Most likely, she will reciprocate! (Side note: there is NOTHING more attractive than a man doing the dishes!)
- Your Prayers: She doesn’t just want your prayers, she NEEDS your prayers. Try reading Proverbs 31:10-31 and praying that scripture over her. Pray that God would protect her and fill her with wisdom and that he would pour his blessings out on her.
- Your Undivided Attention: Ohhhhh, this is a touchy subject. But… I will speak truth. Your wife NEEDS you to turn off the TV, to leave your cell phone in another room and for you to sit down and TALK to her. Men and women are wired different. I get that. But I will tell you… if you will do this for her often, she will often show you her appreciation. 🙂
- Your Strength & Protection: It’s amazing to me how God created men to be strong, to be the protector. (I’m so attracted to my husbands arms, because they are strong and my safe place.) Your wife wants to feel your strong arms around her, in a loving way. Give her a long, gentle hug and let her feel… safe. She will love it.
- Genuine Affirmations: Guess what? We ALL battle with self-doubt and self-worth sometimes. Remind your wife how AWESOME she is. Tell her what you love about her. Let her know you feel lucky to have her. Fill her LOVE bucket to the brim with truths about how amazing and beautiful she is.
- Flowers: I will openly admit that most women LOVE flowers but you don’t have to BUY them. The most beautiful and heart felt bouquets I’ve ever received were the wildflowers picked off the side of the road (or the dandelions picked by my kiddos, of course)!
- Dinner: But you don’t have to buy it. Let her relax while you COOK it at home. Grill her a steak. Chop up a salad (my husband chopped up lettuce the other night and let me tell you, it tasted so good! Plain jane salad, but because HE chopped it up, it tasted better!)! Heck, even a homemade grilled cheese is delicious if someone else makes it for you!
- Your Love: Obviously this is the most important one. You may think your wife KNOWS that you love her, but you need to TELL her that you love her. On the daily. Because even though she knows, she still wants to hear it. 3 little words can make a big difference in her day. Tell your wife that you love her and watch her glow from the inside out.
Dear husband, I sincerely hope that this Valentine’s Day you don’t go rushing out to buy gifts at the last minute because you “have” to. Instead, how awesome would it be for you to come up with some creative ideas to show your wife how much she is loved without spending a dime? She would melt over a handwritten, old fashioned love note. Or get creative and make a homemade Valentine just for her. Maybe it’s time to bust out the scissors, paper, glue and glitter? The possibilities of genuinely showing your love are endless. Have fun with it and Happy Valentine’s Day!
{How to Have a Happy Marriage – The Checklist} Your Marriage was meant to THRIVE! Use this FREE daily checklist to grow forward with your spouse.
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