The Importance of Praise and Encouragement
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
~Hebrews 10:24~
Being a part of a marriage means dealing with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. There are good days and not so good days in any and every relatioship. It's just part of the territory. Within all of these moments is when wives have the joyful opportunity of being their hubby's encourager and main source of praise. I describe this role as being joyful because that is exactly how we should approach this part of our marriage. Being a wife is about helping your man when he needs it most. Through the easy days and the hard days.
Love
I am a firm believer that love is not only an emotion and feeling but an action. We should be showing our husbands that we love them each and every day. In some form or fashion our love needs to be evident to our man. To love someone is not just to say "I love you". It's a simple gesture to let your man know that you are behind him 100%. Remember the saying, "Actions speak louder than words"? This is the ideal situation to put that quote into effect. Does your hubby have a favorite meal? Surprise him and fix it one night for dinner. Does he have a favorite author or musician? Next time you're out grab a book or CD to give to him. When he walks through that door after a long day, a hug and kiss is always perfect. There are many ways to show our hubby's how much we love, care, and appreciate them but it is up to us, the wives, to take action.
Support
Everyday should be a day to show your husband that you support him. Our husband's need to know that they are the most important earthly thing in our lives. When it comes to making difficult decisions in our life, our support is imperative. Supporting our husband's thoughts and ideas are important. Allowing him to share his prayers, his questions, his fears, his dreams... these are ways to show that you care and that you support how he feels and you support what he does everyday for your family.
Praise
There is always something to be thankful for. In each day, no matter the situation, there is always something wonderful hidden. Find ways to show your hubby that you recognize his hard work and his efforts. Does he work long hours and provide for your family? Is he a strong spiritual leader in the home? Does he always find time for the kids? Did he finally complete that household chore? Our husbands do countless things in and around our home and for our families. It is easy to take these things for granted on a daily basis but find a way to recognize his dedication and achievements, no matter how big or small. Maybe hide a sweet card in his work bag that simply says, "Thanks for all you do." Stay encouraging at home if work is rough. Praise takes on many shapes and forms. The other day, after an afternoon of helping my hubby fill out a gazillion pages of paperwork for his new job, I high-fived him after we dropped the bulging envelope in the mail. This small gesture did not go unnoticed.
Listen
Communication is so, so, so important in a successful marriage and part of making this work is the art of listening. Our hubby's are going to have days where they just simply need a shoulder to cry on, a pillar to lean upon, an open ear. Communication is all about give and take and finding that perfect balance of talking and listening.
Pray
And of course the most encouraging thing we can do for our husband's is to pray for them each day. What better way to praise our significant others than by lifting them up to the Lord and share with Him our prayers for our hubby's. It is such an awesome feeling to know that we can count on someone to go to God and advocate for us day by day.
The past couple years I have learned to recognize and push my selfish feelings and emotions aside. Right now my life is really all about my husband and I've learned what an encouraging part I can play in his life. By loving, supporting, praising, listening, and praying, my husband and I have grown more together than ever before. We make important and difficult decisions about our future together. So for now, my hubby's career is our priority and I'm completely okay with this because I know my job is to motivate and help my man in any way I can. There are always things that we want to do but what does God want us to do? What do our husbands need from us? There are still days when I can be self-centered but this time encouraging my husband is a stepping stone in our marriage to help prepare us for the future.
Other Key Verses
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
~1 Thessalonians 5:11~
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips."
~Proverbs 27:2~
Wife Challenge
Find a way to encourage and praise your hubby each day this week.
"A wife's esteem and admiration for her husband should always be on display, on parade, so that no one can miss it." Elizabeth George
