I've mentioned my hard workin' man here before...long hours away from home, and many days he's shorter on sleep than he should be. I don't know about the men in your life, but my man is such a GOOD listener, but he isn't always dumping all his feelings or frustrations on me. Men tend to "bear the burden", instead of "bare the burden"! That is the way my man is anyhow, and that's okay. However, if he does share what's on his heart from time to time, you bet I'm gonna listen as best I can!
The other day while he was at work, he gave me a call, and boy did he share. He has more "stuff" to deal with sometimes, than I would ever imagine! Believe me, you couldn't make some of it up, it's so bizarre. It makes me soooooo grateful that I can be home with our children, and not out in the world battling that each day. He mentioned he felt like he was just "earning a paycheck", and there wasn't much meaning in what he was doing. My husband definitely needed encouragement bigtime. But how? I was in the middle of a hectic homeschool day. What could I do for him? Well, I got out my cell phone and starting texting messages....the first one said : -You say you are JUST earning a paycheck? Oh, contrare monfrare (I don't know how in the world to spell that!)....What you are doing is....
And through the day, and the next, I would send a text every couple of hours as to what he WAS doing:
-Showing his sons and daughters the value of hard work, and that hard work is nothing to balk at.
-Providing a home and food to protect and nourish his family.
-Showing men at work what a Christian man looks like. (I gave an example to him of something sacrificial he had done for someone at work recently.
-Sacrificing for your family-loving us in this way.
-Building on your leadership skills.
-Being challenged physically, mentally and emotionally--and rising up to it!
-Learning how to lean more and more on the Lord.
-Learning how to release control to the One who had it all in the first place.
Maybe you can take this idea, and make it your own for your own husband--or, maybe God will bring something new to mind. I hear so many people saying, "Where are the real men in our society anymore?" Well, I think in my mind when I hear that, where are the women to support those men? I want to encourage my man to be all that he can be. I may not have all the time in the world, but God can help me use my imagination to find creative ways to build up my man!
-No wonder my man needs a bit of encouragement now and then....just look at all those big boots he has to fill ;)
Here is to encouraging those wonderful men in our lives,
Joy
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