What If You Had a Year Exclusively Devoted to Marriage?

Good advice:

What if you’d been given a year after your wedding to focus only on your wife? How would your relationship be different today? It’s not too late to find out. Maybe you don’t have an entire year, but you can start with a day at a time. Clear your schedule so that you can give your wife your undivided attention. If you have commitments that take you away from home on the evenings and weekends, consider dropping one or two of them to focus on your relationship. Listen to her concerns. Commit yourself to meeting her needs. Look for ways to bring her happiness. With God’s help, you can turn your marriage into a love story for the ages.

Don’t forget to eliminate distractions such as phones, tablets, computers, TV, etc. And if you have kids at home, make sure they won’t interrupt you. (A getaway would be ideal.)

The Blessing of Being Known (Reprise)

A few weeks ago, I wrote on the blessing of being known. This past weekend, my husband blessed me by knowing . . . that I was almost at the end of my rope. I was feeling overwhelmed with life. His solution — take me away from it all, at least for a little while. And since we live in the most beautiful state in the union, “away” was practically in our backyard. He checked our calendars, made an overnight reservation, found last-minute childcare, and I was whisked away to spend the night and day nestled in the mountains in a 1900s English castle. I had my husband all to myself, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation together, and it was just what I needed. What a blessing that he knew this even better than I did.

Twenty-four Slow, Delicious Hours!

Last Sunday night, K and I slipped off to the majestic Glen Eyrie castle for a quick overnight stay. The weather was perfect, the scenery sublime, the experience delightful. I had my queen all to myself for a day.

Getaways are wonderful for several reasons:

Lovemaking—privacy invites freedom; newness invites variety.

Conversation-making—quiet invites reflection; walking invites talking.

On Sunday night, we had a great time sauntering through the castle, sneaking behind closed doors, exploring the dark, narrow stairways, stopping to sit and talk. Monday morning, after a bountiful and delicious breakfast, we strolled through the gardens discussing our past, present, and future. I shared some of my ministry dreams. She engaged and encouraged. We paused at a bench with a grand vista and talked. And talked.

Finally, it was time to check-out. But we weren’t finished talking. So, off to Starbucks we went. Then home to a still empty house for more.

Twenty-four slow, delicious hours!

Mysteriously Generous

Conversations from Ephesians

God’s plan to send His Son to be savior and king of the universe was carefully planned and executed. Also, it was well-hidden until the time came to reveal its wonder to the world. It’s what the Bible calls a mystery.

Marriage should contain an element of mystery, not as uncertainty or puzzling paradox, but as careful planning and wonderful display. Dates, getaways, gifts, and any other special expressions of love should be carefully planned and mysteriously presented.

Planning and mystery go together. Mere surprise is not the goal. Jesus did not simply show up and say, “Bet you didn’t see that coming!” He came to fulfill, to bring to climax, what God had been leading up to all the time. That a climax was coming was not a surprise, but its precise realization was. The process showed, among other things, that God had given significant forethought to His plan, that things had happened on purpose.

Husbands and wives like to be the recipients of these kinds of plans. We like to know that our spouse has done things on purpose. Specifically, we enjoy being the purpose.

It takes time and creativity to plan well and to take the cover off of a mystery in just the right way. But, for those whom we love, we find the time. We make the time. We want to be mysteriously generous.

Do you love your spouse enough to be mysteriously generous?

Your Husband did WHAT?!?!

I was told I wouldn’t guess in a hundred chances, and he was right.

Last Sunday, my husband whisked me away for an overnight in Denver (sans kids). I’d been told a bed & breakfast would be our final destination, but I had no idea what the journey held on the way there. And he was rather, well, giddy, so this peaked my curiosity even more.

As we drove north, he inquired about my recent homeschool preparations and listened as I rambled excitedly about the new school year. He knew the right question to ask to get me to talk, and I did. Never once did he appear bored, and he encouraged further chatter by asking more questions to show that he really was listening.

Eventually, we pulled up outside a four-star hotel downtown. Now I was really confused because I knew this wasn’t where we were spending the night. Into the foyer we proceeded, only to be met by a sign reading, “Afternoon Tea.” He walked up to the hostess and asked for a table for two.

Yes, Tea for Two. For three hours we enjoyed stimulating conversation and delectable goodies, and of course, tea. It was truly a most elegant event complete with canapes, petit fours, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, scones and devonshire cream.

Truth be told, there weren’t many men in attendance, but I think it takes a real man to take his wife to tea!

He’d read that this was the closest you could come to a real English high tea in Colorado. And yes, I was surprised. I never would have guessed that my husband would take me to tea, but I was sure delighted that he did. And that was just the beginning of our journey . . . .

A Cherished Wife . . . That’s Me!

For my birthday last month, my husband blessed and honored me in so many ways. Here are just a few:

* He planned an overnight get-away for just the two of us at a five-star hotel. Our room was complete with fluffy robes (although we didn’t need them), a spa tub for two, and a fireplace!

* He knows me so well and understands that while I love when he plans our dates, he knows I don’t always love surprises. So, he gave me a couple weeks’ notice. The anticipation was half the fun!

* He arranged for our children to spend two days and the night with a family in our church.

* He sent me an email message the week before telling me what to pack and giving just enough detail to keep me anxiously looking forward to our time together.

* He made me feel special by arranging for a romantic package that included a red rose on my pillow . . . and chocolate-covered strawberries!

* He took me shopping for a new dress and waited patiently as I tried on several until we found the perfect birthday present, accessories included.

* He orchestrated everything perfectly including my favorite restaurants, desserts, and two days of fun activities that I love to do with him.

* On my actual birthday, he came home from the office early, so that I could have an afternoon to myself to spend as I wished. How delightful!

* And for my birthday dinner, we went out to my restaurant of choice as a family, dessert included.

Now, it would be one thing if this only happened once a year on my birthday, or maybe twice a year including our anniversary. But because my husband knows me and loves me, he takes the time and makes the effort so that I feel this special all year-round. It’s not every weekend that we luxuriate at a five-star hotel because honoring and cherishing can be evidenced in the little things, too.

God's Design for Marriage

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