Fresh Perspective

Because I am around the children the majority of the time I naturally feel like I often have a better understanding of a situation with them. I feel like I've been dealing with a specific issue with one of our kids for a while and if Seth comes in and begins to give me advice on how to deal with something, I don't always agree with his approach. However, I've found that his perspective has the benefit of not having been put through the emotional ringer all day, plus he is the only other person who understands my children like I do. So, even though some of his advice I might not initially think would work, I've found almost always does! I've learned to not even take Seth's suggestions lightly, because he is usually right!

Message

Next time you call your husband and get his voice message, leave him a very suggestive message. He'll call back in a jiffy. :)

Humility in Correction

Any sibling reading this can attest to the fact that I am not very good at taking correction. Once correction begins, I am on the opposite side beginning my (very logical) defense. Humility barely peeps it's head, if it makes an entrance at all. Now, I don't come out with a disrespectful tone or look all the time, but my heart is unreceptive because I am too busy making a defense for myself. My husband just noted that yesterday, and we traced my oldest daughter's difficulty in receiving rebukes to my example. This was very sad for me. I realized I am always unconsciously setting the example for my children and this is definitely one area that needs fixin! I ask my husband to please help me as I try to receive with humility things that need changing in my life. So, step one has been taken and thus begins the fight for meekness and humility to grow in my life and let die my foolish pride. Thoughts, tips, prayers...and accountability are welcome.

The Heart of Her Husband

Proverbs 31 talks of the virtuous woman. It says the heart of her husband trusts in her. I've always loved that passage, even before I was married. However, after 6 years of marriage, I still don't think my husband can always trust in me. Not like I share secrets or spend his hard-earned money thoughtlessly, but I am extremely forgetful. Also, I am the queen of procrastination. These two character flaws can create a very unreliable wife! My husband is always patient and kind with me, but I cannot always be trusted to get things done. If I don't put his requests first and make his priorities my priorities, things don't get done and he has to check up on me. I want so badly to come to the place where I can say confidently the heart of my husband does trust in me. It is something I have always worked on and will continue to tackle.

Goodies

Buy a bag of one of your husband's favorite candies, but don't give him the whole bag. Keep it and lay some around here or there at different times. Put some on his pillow, leave some in his work vehicle, place some in his pocket, etc. Use it to tell him you were thinking about him. :)

Cashier Kindness

When I was younger and would accompany my mother to the grocery store, my mother would occasionally bless the cashier by buying her a little treat from the checkout selection. This act usually blessed the woman very much and I always thought it was a small witness. So, I thought next time I'm out I would try that. I was thinking I would do it if I noticed the person were efficient, cheerful or a good bagger. Then I thought maybe I should do it to someone who seemed to be having a bad day. Then I realized I should do it no matter what - just to bless them. I don't think it will matter if the person is on a diet, or allergic to nuts or has an aversion to caramel. It is the act. So, I want to try that next time I go shopping! :) (Having said all that, I don't know if stores are really strict now and won't allow their employees to accept things from their customers. It'd seem weird, but you never know now 'a days!)