My Weekend Marriage Challenge

I just want to be sure you know that we are having weekend marriage challenges on weekends on my social media sites.

You can participate at any time!

The Receiving Cheerfully Challenge – is going on now!

For the next 3 days, if your husband compliments you, does anything for you requiring time/effort on his part, offers you something (including affection or intimacy) or gives you any type of “gift” (even if it is not wrapped) the challenge is this:

  1. Stop what you are doing (if possible).
  2. Smile your brightest smile at him.
  3. Receive his gift with joy.

Don’t argue or turn him down—unless he offers you something you are allergic to or something!

Be on the lookout all weekend for even small things.

  • Did he open the door for you?
  • Did he offer to hold your hand?
  • Did he offer you a backrub or intimacy?
  • Did he help you with clearing the table?
  • Did he sit down and eat with you?
  • Did he listen when you wanted to share something?
  • Did he help you clean up a mess?
  • Did he run to the store for you?
  • Did he fix something around the house?
  • Did he cuddle with you on the couch?
  • Did he help in any way with the kids?
  • Did he work to help provide for your family’s needs?
  • Did he provide constructive criticism or advice?

You can comment here that you are signing up, or you can follow me on social media and comment there.

There is almost nothing more feminine than a woman who knows how to receive graciously with joy.

MY SOCIAL MEDIA

My Facebook page is Peaceful Wife Blog

My Instagram is Peacefulwife

17 comments

  1. I’m in! I was thinking this afternoon that I wanted my hubby to do something w me outside of the house just to give us some time alone. And after dinner he asked me to go for a walk! So sweet. On our walk I smiled and thanked him for making time for just the two of us. He loved it and it was nice to rest in Gods goodness to us. 🙂

    1. Sara,

      That was very sweet of your husband!

      Greg did the same thing for me after supper and I made sure to thank him, too.

      Glad you got to enjoy some time alone together. ????

    1. Jaimie!!!
      I was thinking about you and praying for you this week. I hope you and your family are doing well. ????????

      So great to hear from you.

      Thanks for joining!

  2. Hi April,
    What a great challenge. Yes, please sign me up. Just yesterday I caught myself being impatient and ungrateful. But today is a new day and this challenge will be helpful in our marriage.

    I hope you and your family are doing great!

    Love & prayers,
    Amber

    1. Amber P,

      Yay! Welcome aboard!

      I love little assignments like this, it just helps you keep things in mind. And it’s awesome to have the support and encouragement of other wives, too.

      How is everyone doing with the challenge today, ladies?

      Much love!

  3. this is so awesome! when u show appreciation to hubby, does the favors, affection, gifts, etc. seem to increase?

    1. Jaimie N Mills,

      Yes, in most cases, husbands feel a lot more inspired to give when their wives show appreciation. It’s not a guarantee, of course, but it does tend to be the norm.

        1. Jaimie N Mills, when we receive joyfully, admire our men, show our faith in them, and have a cooperative spirit, that’s pretty attractive to them. It really boosts the connection and the real-life romance. IF we are doing these things out of godly motives and love for Christ, not manipulation. <3

          1. Does this dynamic seem to ignite a man’s natural inclination to provide for his wife? Reminds me of Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Also thank you for highlighting the tendency to shy away from receiving. It’s something the Lord highlighted to me recently and how its stopping the flow of blessings- which ultimately come from Him! 🙂 I always heal and grow when I come back around here! THANK YOU!!!

            1. Jaimie N Mills,

              Yes! When a man sees that his wife admires him, is full of faith in him, appreciates his hard work and efforts, it is more motivating than almost anything else for him to want to please her, to be a better man, to be a better husband, to be a better provider, etc…

              It’s interesting. Most wives feel more comfortable giving than receiving. And yet, we have so much ability to bless as we receive. Now, it is possible to take receiving too far and become selfish or self-absorbed. I’m not saying to do that. I’m just encouraging wives to delight in their husbands’ love and to show appreciation for their efforts.

              It’s simple. It truly takes almost no effort. It’s a whole lot less work than most wives try to do to make their marriages better.
              But it’s powerful. When we are right with the Lord and our motives are right.

              You are very welcome!

              Yes, if we refuse to receive from God, we are stopping so many of His blessings. We tend to want to do things for ourselves with God and with our men. And we miss out on countless gifts that way. It’s sad! Instead of being so independent, perhaps we can focus more on gratitude, relaxing, resting, and receiving love.

              I’m so glad this was healing for you.

              Much love!

  4. Ladies,
    How did the challenge go? Let’s hear about the struggles and the victories. If you struggled, I have some resources that may be a blessing.

    Much love!

  5. I’ve been dying to write in, but until 10 minutes ago we were sitting side by side drinking coffee. About 3 hours after “sign up” I had a setback with my health. My back occasionally gives out and by Friday night it wasn’t pretty. Saturday I needed help getting out of bed.

    Hubby was right there helping dress me, getting coffee, cooking breakfast. All I could do was say thank you and smile at him. He put some DVDs in and we cuddled on the couch to watch them. When I mentioned how much that meant he said he needed the reassurance too. His friend texted him asking if he wanted to go somewhere but hubby said no, there were important things on his agenda.

    Fortunately Sunday was better and I tried catching him doing nice things and thanking him for them. By the afternoon he was putting the dishes away from the dishwasher and I had to get up as quickly as I could to help. He asked if I shouldn’t be resting and the only response I could muster was he had been a hero the entire weekend. After, we held each other in the kitchen for a couple minutes. Other than being in pain for a day and a half, it was a blissful weekend.

    It was an interesting experience. One that will be repeated next weekend when things are closer to normal. It also showed me just how much I contribute to the disruption in our marriage, which is something requiring reflection and prayer.

    1. Happily gave up,

      Many of us are not comfortable with receiving help. A whole lot of us would rather be doing the giving and serving. But we tend to wear ourselves out and deplete ourselves until we have nothing left to give.

      What an incredible gift that you had this experience this past weekend and that you were ready to approach it in a whole new way! Your receiving was BEAUTIFUL!!!!

      It brings tears of joy to my eyes to see how much you both enjoyed just being with each other and savoring your time together.

      We often miss out on so many incredible moments of intimacy if we are not ready and willing to receive the ways our husbands want to give love to us.

      Thank you SO much for sharing!!!!!

      PRAISING GOD WITH YOU!

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