Encouraging my husband

Last week my friend Randi had an entry on her blog about being more encouraging to her husband instead of being the "nagging wife." When I read her entry, I automatically could see myself in what she said. I've been quite bossy since I was a small child--just ask my little brother! My bossiness probably was at the root of most of the fights we had growing up and even in college. You could also ask some of my good friends from high school and college--especially my guy friends. My friend Kyle always teased me about bossing him around. Of course when I went to college I majored in English education and became a high school English teacher. God used this trait in me in a positive way as I worked with teenagers for eight years...and most of them need some bossing around :) But as a wife, I see how this trait has manifested itself at times into becoming a nagging wife. Instead of building Ty up and encouraging him, I often find faults or tell him what I think he should be doing. I am SO blessed with a husband who is devoted to me and to Jake. He loves us unconditionally and is good.

After reading Randi's blog, the next day I read my friend Stacey's blog, and she had an entry about the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge for Wives. You can read about it at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/pdf/30DayChallenge.pdf. It challenges wives to only say encouraging, uplifting things TO and ABOUT their husbands for 30 days. After reading both blogs, I was indeed convicted to take the challenge. When I was younger, I always said I Peter 3:3-4 was my goal: "It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you--the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is precious to God." The older I get, I believe this is harder to obtain. I want my words to be sprinkled with salt and to be carefully said. I want to have a quiet and gentle spirit especially in dealing with my husband and son. I hope by trying to encourage Ty with kind words, it will inspire me to think about my words in general.

By the way, I'm on day 2 and day 1 was hard! I wasn't entirely "nice" :) But, day 2 went better! Its also encouraging to me knowing that several woman are also taking this challenge. May God strengthen our marriages and our hearts!