National Marriage Week Challenge
Ok girls! I have a challenge for you this week in honor of your husband and National Marriage Week!! Are you up for a little challenge? It’s an easy one, but just one you’ll have to remember each night.
As you do this challenge keep in mind you are only doing this to show love, compassion, appreciation and respect. With the expectation of nothing coming back in return! Even if your hubby forgets Valentine’s Day, I especially challenge you to not harbor any ill-feelings towards him and do this challenge as one of servitude only. Don’t forget nothing gets by God unnoticed. So go in with a true serving heart.
The Challenge:
Starting today, go into your bathroom and hang a sign, write with a dry erase marker (no Sharpies!) on your bathroom mirror a sweet little something that he can relate to or is from your dating past (with him!).
Tonight and for the rest of the week (until Thursday night), write a sweet little love note to him. Remember, we used to do this when we were dating? And if you didn’t, it’s never to late to start!! This doesn’t have to be a long letter, it can be short and sweet. Some of the nights, I will use a Post-It note for a sweet short little message. Then when he’s not looking, place it in his work bag, lunch box or in his car. Somewhere that he will notice it the next day. Don’t hide it so good that he can’t find it (I’ve done this before)!!
Here’s another hard part. Things like this make me giddy! And I can’t wait for his response. But… sometimes he doesn’t have one. Sometimes his work day is so busy or stressful that if he even saw the note, he may have forgotten. Please don’t remind him or ask him about it. Just continue again the next night.
Even if he doesn’t ever say anything, he knows that you care. Still continue with the challenge. It wouldn’t be called a challenge if it was easy. (and really this one is pretty easy)
Maybe this is the beginning of communicating with him again and he’s just not sure if you are really serious or if you are doing it just to get something in return. Sometimes communication starts with one person and the other comes along later.
The last part of the challenge is to designate a small amount of time on Friday night for him. Find it in your busy schedule to squeeze in an hour of quality time with him. Have the kids do something else, watch a movie, play a game, stay at a friends. Explain to them, if they are old enough, that you need an hour of quiet time.
During your hour, and you don’t have to tell him that you are saving an hour for him, be with him. No distractions allowed. If his usual thing is for him to watch a show or a movie, then sit next to him and watch it with him and pay attention to him and the show. No playing on your phone or tablet, no running to the kids unless their is an emergency. Be interested in him, in his activities. If you can, talk. Ask him about his day, and listen. Guys don’t talk much, so if he is a man of few words, then that’s ok. If he likes to go off on his own somewhere quiet in the house, then give him that hour. Don’t bug him, don’t let the kids or dog bug him. But be there if he needs you. This hour is about him. Cater to him!!!
We are doing this with no expectations. This is coming from our heart as serving him and showing him appreciation and respect. This is just a small way of showing love. Anytime we can show them attention, and that we care about them, it is a step in the right direction for a long successful marriage.
If you are up for this challenge, ask to join the Facebook group Dating Your Spouse. We will be on there with encouragement and sharing our little victories. This is the place to share and ask questions.
Photo Credit: (c) Can Stock Photo
2 Comments
This sounds like a great challenge! I’m up for it! Starting tonight, I will start these activities. I wonder what he will think, since this is so out of the norm for me?
Way to go Cara! Sometimes it’s fun to mix things up a little. When I’ve done these types of things in the past, it usually helps our marriage one-step forward. Marriage is for the long haul and little baby steps is what can help make a marriage successful.