Around the barnyard #7

Our bridegrooms!

This particular post has been a long time in the making in my head... I hope I am able to do it the justice it deserves!

When you get down to the basics of what we do as housewives... ultimately we don't work for the MAN, we work for the much more forgiving higher power, our Heavenly Father. Our husbands, on the other hand, are not so lucky in the day to day activities of working! Right now with the economy the way it is, and all the frustrations of unpleasant work environments... our husbands are feeling the burden! I'm sure most of you ladies are seeing that beaten down look when your dear husband arrives home in the evenings, and as the nurturing beings we are... we desperately want to ease that load in any way we can... and my friends, I believe we CAN do that very thing! How?

Take a few minutes and think about what your husbands like. Think about those things that cause undo frustration to your spouse within your home... maybe it is laundry piled up, clutter on a counter top, dirty dishes in the sink. Consider tasks around that house that are usually on his 'honey-do' list that you are capable of doing. Picture what it can be like, having a rough day at the office and then coming home to a house in chaos. Does that give you a sense of relief, does your home sound like a refuge where you can recharge your batteries for another day of battle? No, it sounds just as crappy as the office full of inconsiderate workers, inconsiderate customers, and bosses who don't have your best interest at heart!

Now set about making a plan for the remaining days of this week.

Two very important parts to this little challenge.
--First, don't say a word about what you are doing!
--Second, don't expect a single thing to be said in return for how hard you are working (remember you are doing this for him, not for praise of your own deeds)!

Now for the first half of your mission!
As I mentioned above, consider some of his pet peeves if you will. Do your best to remedies those first. Next look for things you can do that will give him more time to unwind in the evenings or over the weekend (just a few ideas off the top of my head...you know more about your own homes to come up with a good working list)...

• mow the yard (it's that time of year again)
• clean out the car (wash it or get it washed if possible)
• take out the trash
• sweep out the garage (if you have a blower... this works well for that little task :-)

Okay... so that is the working portion of the task, now for the second half of the job! If you haven't gone grocery shopping yet or done your meal planning, come up with several of his favorite meals to be included for the week. Consider having them ready (or nearly ready) when he walks in the door in the evening. Greet him when he arrives... and do so dressed. Okay that sounds weird, but how often does our husband come home and we are in our frumpy cleaning/working clothes (maybe that's just me)? Put on something that doesn't include knit or elastic :-), brush the hair out a little, maybe even throw on some lipstick (or coloredy chap stick, my personal preference). Trust me, this says, "I'm so glad you are home, I've been waiting for your return all day!" What an amazing ego boost to give our husbands, to show them that we love them not because they can fix things or because they can reach things off tall shelves (although for us little 5 footers, this is a big one)... but because we love them for who they are to us, and that we are here to support them in the burden of providing for our family.

I know, I know, you already have a ton on your own plate. You, too, are frustrate and annoyed and burdened... but this week... heck till the end of Lent if you are up for it, put your husband FIRST! They need it! Remember that their frustration level rubs off on us (and our children)... if we can help lower their stress, in turn ours will also come down!

Offer up every single act for the suffering of your husband this week, for his strength to persevere, and that he finds refuge in your home and in your arms!

Alright... there are your marching orders, as it were... let's get crackin'!