I could actually write a LOT more than I am writing – but I am trying to not let it get too long!
1. The things I admire most about men in general are –
- The way they think so differently from women. I LOVE learning how men work through problems and hearing how my husband imagines a scale and weighs the pros and cons, or uses a formula to plug in different variables to see what the best outcome would be. I love hearing how some men don’t think in words, but only in silent movies or pictures. I love learning how some men do think in words, but in a totally different way from the way that we women think.
- I also love learning about how differently men process emotions from women. That they don’t use words as they process the emotions, necessarily – and that it takes time for them to put their emotions into words.
- I love the way so many godly men talk about how they want to be sure that the feelings and emotions they share won’t hurt their wives. They take time to filter their emotions through a “respect filter” to try to keep from causing unnecessary damage to those they love. I RESPECT THAT! I am humbled when I hear men say that they would rather hold their emotions in than risk hurting their wives by sharing their emotions. I long for everyone in every marriage and relationship to be able to share their feelings – but I respect that so many men want to be careful not to hurt their wives.
- So many men I have talked with seem to have a genuine humility about them. They know they are sinners. They understand that all people are sinners. They are prepared to offer grace. They tend to be so free with forgiveness – that humbles me and inspires me, as well.
- The way they can literally think about nothing. I am sometimes SO JEALOUS of that ability! What a blessing to be able to just turn off all the thoughts and just rest and relax.
- The way their influence on their children is SO POWERFUL. When godly men use their influence as fathers – they keep children close to God, they keep them out of trouble, drugs, pre-marital sex, crime, gangs, etc. Dads are their daughters’ first handsome prince – teaching them how they should expect to be treated by men and treasured. Dads are their sons first heroes – teaching them what it means to be disciplined, responsible, mature and what it means to be a godly man. What an incredibly valuable job. No woman can be a dad. We need men to be dads.
- The way they so often think logically and don’t allow emotion to cloud their judgment. I am thankful for this trait men have. I’m glad that God made them to be the leaders in marriage and in the church.
- The way they are often so emotionally and spiritually stable.
- The way they often won’t allow themselves to be manipulated or controlled.
- The way they can work in the most awful conditions without complaining – they focus on getting the mission or job done, no matter the inconvenience, personal sacrifice, or dirt involved.
- The way they play and have fun sometimes.
- Their sense of humor.
2. The things I admire most about my own husband are –
- His endless patience with me, with our children, with projects, with working through problems or even just jig-saw puzzles. He amazes me with his ability to maintain calm, poise, composure and just keep persevering no matter how tedious the task.
- His amazing ability to do renovations on the house. He does a beautiful job – better than the professionals a lot of times. Our home is my dream home – built by his hands – every room he has redone reminds me of his great love for me and the hard work, blood, and sweat he was willing to endure to give me this gift to show his love for me.
- That he will willingly work on plumbing projects under the house – and can be covered with nastiness and have to crawl on his belly with lots of bugs, mud, sewage and kitchen mess under the house and never complain – just gets the job done, and does it well. WOW! Um… we would be in serious trouble if I had to try to fix that stuff! 🙂
- His godly wisdom. Sometimes I don’t agree with him about a decision at the time – but almost every single time, when I look back much later in hind sight – I see very clearly that God was leading him, and that if we had done what I wanted to do at the time, it would have caused a big disaster.
- His strong leadership. Before December of 2008 – I thought my husband wouldn’t/couldn’t lead in our marriage. I was SO VERY WRONG. I just had to step down out of the way. It has been the most precious experience of my life to watch God work in Greg to cause him to stand taller and to learn to be confident in himself and to blossom into an amazing, godly leader. I am in awe.
- What a wonderful dad he is. There is nothing that warms my heart as much as seeing my husband in the back yard playing ball with our children – watching the HUGE smiles on their faces as he teaches them his ball-handling skills and as they talk with him and he bonds with them in this simple way. Our children know they are loved by their Daddy. Since I have learned to respect Greg as my husband and as a dad, we back each other up as parents. It is WONDERFUL! If I ask them to do something, and they hesitate or don’t obey me – Greg reiterates what I just said and then they get up right away and obey. When we stand together united like that – our children’s behavior and obedience is just amazing. And if he asks them to do something, and they resist, then I repeat what their Daddy asked them to do and ask them to please respect and obey their Daddy – and they go do what they were told. How incredible to work together as a team in unity and harmony.
- My husband’s spiritual strength. He is very private about his spiritual life. I respect that now. I don’t interfere with his relationship with God. I pray for him – but in a way that shows I am on his side. I don’t criticize him spiritually anymore – and Greg blows my mind with the things he has learned and the godly wisdom he shares with me and with husbands.
- How calm he is under pressure and when there is an emergency. He is my emotional and spiritual rock – I look to him when everything around me and in me seems to be unstable.
- He is SO forgiving. He keeps no record of my wrongs.
Questions 3 and 4 will be continued tomorrow!
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to my husband, Greg!
And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads.
Happy Unofficial Men Appreciation Day to all the men.
I am so thankful for godly men – for husbands, for fathers.
I am so thankful for God’s wisdom in creating men exactly the way He did to accomplish His good purposes.
And I am so thankful for the way that godly masculinity and godly femininity combine to create unity and teamwork for the glory of God!