Day 12

Creeping closer to the halfway point of the challenge. Today's topic speaks to me in a good way. I freely admit this was a point of weakness for me in the past...I often expected my husband to fulfill needs that I should have been turning to God for fulfillment. I became aware of that and have begun making it a regular thing to examine my expectations and the areas in which I'm in the wrong. I've found that it can be difficult to change old patterns...but it's worth the effort.

"With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." Eph. 4:2

Part of the difficulty you may face as you continue in this 30-day challenge to encourage your husband is that you really are struggling to find positive things to praise. Perhaps the problem is not with your husband. Have you checked your own heart? Sometimes we get disillusioned because of our own unreasonable or unrealistic expectations (Prov. 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.).

It may not be that our mates are doing something wrong; it's simply that we expect too much in some areas. Our expectations must be met in God alone, and then we will have the right perspective to ask God for the healing and grace we need to respond to others. How sad that we give more grace to others than to those in our own homes. Today, try to look at your husband through eyes of grace. Verbally thank your husband for what he is already doing.

My husband is simply wonderful...and I enjoy my life with him. It's so much easier to do that when you aren't placing unrealistic expectations on someone...and just enjoying the blessing they are to you! As for actions...I've been pretty good lately about telling him that I appreciate him...and also trying to SHOW him, because after all actions speak louder than words! I'll have to come up with something today though...not going to get to spend much time with him today because of a class tonight...and I want to make sure I let him know how special I think he is today!