Last Updated on May 1, 2019 by Stacy Averette
Life is a wonderful gift and birthdays ought to be celebrated! At least that’s what we think at our house. We keep birthday celebrations pretty simple these days with good food, family, friends, and a few gifts. The dinner menu and decorations are always fun and simple.
This year marks the BIG 50 for hubby and me. I celebrated mine in March and his is just a few days away. We have some fun “date day” plans and then a celebration with family here at home. I’ll cook his favorite meal and we’ll enjoy some dessert and coffee, too. We’ll pile on a few gifts—I’m sure there will be a new tool, a new shirt, a gag gift, and something coffee related in the mix. He’ll be happy and grateful as always. Look at him enjoying life on our recent trip to Montana. I love this picture!! But I know there are 25 gifts he (and every husband) wants more than anything else.
What A Husband Wants Most
More than anything else, a husband wants respect from his wife. It’s what makes him feel loved. The Bible reveals that “secret” in Ephesians 5:22-33 and I Peter 3: 1-6 and after almost 3 decades with my man, I can testify to that truth.
As a wife, I take seriously the biblical command to respect my husband. I’ve not always taken it seriously and I still fail at it often. But this year, it’s my gift to him, because after almost 30 years of marriage I’ve learned it’s the gift he wants most. The birthday food will disappear fast, the shirt will eventually wear out, and the coffee cup will get broken. But the respect I show him each and everyday is a gift that keeps on giving.
And the funny thing about this gift “for him” is that I reap the benefits, too. When a husband feels respected he’s motivated to love his wife like never before. With this gift our marriage will be even stronger and God will be glorified. I’d say that’s the best kind of win-win!
One of my favorite Christian marriage and family blogs is Jennifer Flanders’ Loving Life at Home. Her faith-life expressed in her writing has been a great encouragement to me as a wife and mother. One of my favorite posts is called 25 Ways to Communicate Respect to Your Husband. She says:
Actions speak louder than words. You can say you respect your husband, but he’ll have a hard time believing that unless your behavior backs it up.
I want to do more than just write about and say, “I respect you”. I want to show him each and every day.
25 Gifts a Husband Wants Most
Each weekday this month I’ll be sharing one of Jennifer’s 25 ways to show respect and share a brief personal thought. If you’re married, I encourage you to try these.
Here’s the first way to show respect to your husband:
Choose Joy!
Jennifer says: “Don’t use moodiness to manipulate your man.”
Ladies, I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good over the years at using my emotions to manipulate him and the circumstances to suit me. But that’s what immature children do! As mature women in Christ we have the ability to choose how we respond in every circumstance. Here’s a truth we can hold on to when we feel moody.
The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7, NLT
My husband wants me to be happy and most men I know would do everything in their power to make their wife happy. Let’s give our husbands the gift of joy and happiness. I’m not talking about being fake. It’s okay to be honest and say, “I’ve had a rough day.” But we don’t have to dwell on it and make ourselves and them more miserable.
Christ lives in us and He helps us to choose joy.
Today, I’m choosing joy! Will you choose with me?
Gifts #5 & #6: Prepare His Favorite Foods and Cherish Togetherness
One of my favorite books on marriage is Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs (affiliate link). If you haven’t read it I highly recommend it.
If you want to get these daily reminders sent straight to your email this month, click here to subscribe.
I hope you’ll click here to visit Jennifer’s blog Loving Life at Home. Thanks Jennifer for encouraging us as wives and mothers!
So many marriages could be salvaged if only that nugget of truth were implemented.
You’re right, Charlie. It sure has made mine better.