I love leftovers. As a busy wife, any time I can cook once and eat twice, it's a good day.
Sometimes I'll cook a double portion of the meal I've planned and simply serve it again the next day. My family calls that "reruns." We share the opinion that lasagna is always better the second day.
Other times I'll cook extra of the meat I'm serving and use it in another dish the following day. Since meat is often the meal component that takes the longest to cook and involves the most preparation, having the basis of a second meal ready before I begin saves time and energy. For example, I might cook a whole chicken in the crock pot and have "roasted" chicken on Monday, then use the leftover chicken in an enchilada casserole on Tuesday. Planning for and using leftovers can help save time, effort, and money, and are usually a great idea,
There's one place, however, we should NEVER serve leftovers -
In our marriages.
We're all guilty of it.
We'll go out of our way to do something thoughtful and creative for a friend's birthday, but put minimal thought into a celebration for our husbands.
We're careful to speak words of encouragement and affirmation to our children, because we all know how important it is that they have good self-esteem, but we seldom express to our spouses the good qualities we see in them.
We enthusiastically thank those at church who serve faithfully week after week, but we take for granted our husband's faithful provision and care for us for so many years.
You get the point.
Our marriages are the second most important relationship we have in our lives. (God comes first, children third). But sometimes we neglect, short-change, and take our husbands for granted. We give them the leftovers of our time, energy, and creativity.
Single women, you're not exempt from this application. Though you might not be married to a man, you are married to the Lord, and can be guilty of some of the same neglect of Him! My points above and below also apply to you :)
Here are
6 Alternatives to Leftovers
1. Every day, look intentionally until you find one character quality, action, or kindness in your husband and speak it aloud. Words are powerful. Use them often to build your husband up instead of tearing him down. "John, you were very patient with Matthew when you showed him how to fix his bicycle today. You're a terrific dad."
2. Praise him in the presence of someone else. Imagine his delight when he "catches you" bragging on him to your girlfriend.
3. Plan to do something thoughtful and personal for him this week. It might mean picking up his favorite candy bar as you go through the checkout line, or fixing his favorite meal for dinner. Maybe it's scheduling a date night to do something he really enjoys or making time to just sit together after dinner.
4. Go to bed when he does instead of waiting until you are exhausted.
5. Ask his opinion on something, and really listen to his answers. We are often so self-sufficient we fail to avail ourselves of one of the greatest sources of wisdom available.
Psychology Today lists greeting each other with a hug at the end of the day one of the top 10 things happy couples do. "Our skin has a memory of 'good touch' (loved), 'bad touch' (abused) and 'no touch' (neglected). Couples who say hello with a hug keep their skin bathed in the 'good touch,' which can inoculate your spirit against anonymity in the world."*
This list is not exhaustive. I'd love to hear YOUR ideas for how to love and serve your husband. As we honor our husbands, we invest in one of the most important relationships of our lives, one that is deserving, yet often neglected.
Leave a comment below to share with us one idea for giving our husbands something other than leftovers. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
* http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/just-listen/200911/10-habits-happy-couples
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