Last night, Tim & I stayed up too late (even for us). We've been playing "catch up" for awhile with our inboxes and we have a million projects on our plates. I think the red numbers on the clock flickered 2:35am the last time I checked.
This morning, when the girls stirred - my body ached. My eyes fluttered open, but wanted to stay shut. Without saying a word, Tim got the girls up and let me stay in bed.
Later that afternoon, I put our youngest down for a nap and he said, "Why don't you just take a nap with her?" I started to protest, but the moment I laid my head on the pillow, my head thanked me. He played with our 4-year-old that whole time, nary a complaint on his lips.
Sometimes it's easy to think about giving "out there." We consider ways to give to the OUTSIDE world. But it is equally important (no - MORE important) to remember to give to our spouses - to extend thoughtfulness in the simple things.
When was the last time you took extra care to CARE FOR your spouse? Perhaps you woke up early to make him a cup of coffee, pumped gas in her car so she wouldn't have to, offered to take the kids grocery shopping to give him an hour of solitude, bought her favorite chocolate bar just because, etc.
Love isn't a loud thing, all sparkly and dramatic as the movies would have us believe. On the contrary - It is the quiet, daily sacrifices of choosing someone else's needs above your own.
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I love this. I am perfectly capable of pumping my own gas and getting my own chocolate bar, but when my husband offers to do it for me, I feel so loved and cared for, which of course makes me want to love him more and care for him better. I think we tend to forget, the longer we are together, to do things for each other too.
By the way, not that he will ever read this, but I want to state for the record that he does this kind of thing for me ALL the time - just about everything you mention. Except perhaps letting me sleep in, lol. I'm the early bird in the family so he usually sleeps in on Saturdays. But on the other hand, he never complains when I crash at 8PM, and he often cleans up the kitchen while I doze. That's true love, I tell you! :-)
You are so right in reminding us that giving can begin within our own home. This week my oldest daughter made breakfast for her sister and delivered it to her in bed! I don't think I will ever forget that act of kindness. I am going to be more intentional about noticing what is happening in my home, between my girls and among the four of us and thank them more often, recognize their efforts more deeply and hug them every day!
This is such a good reminder to perform random acts of kindness for our spouses! Last night, I needed my husband to stop by the store for orange juice on the way from work. He not only came back with orange juice, but a special treat for me and our son. It was so kind and it definitely encourages me to think of ways to give to him!
My hubby and I do things for each other all of the time without really thinking about it. On Monday my back flaired up and I spent the evening on the couch and he just did everything. At one point I said I would take the dogs outside but he told me to stay on the couch, the other morning I let him sleep in while I got up with the girls, and it just goes back and forth with us without anyone keeping count. Isn't that what a marriage is all about?
Awww, Tim is such a good man. Since I work on weekdays, I dont get to make breakfast for my husband. So, on weekends I wake up extra early, make him a nice breakfast and I get the hot tub ready for a nice warm bath. He looks forward to weekends just for that simple reason.
I love this post. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the craziness that is our life and not stop to do something special for my hubby. He is an easy man to please and just a few minutes of my time or a small gesture can mean so much!
aww - my hubby "gives" this to me every Saturday and when he's on school vacation, most mornings then as well - it is a LIFE SAVER!!!
Priceless gift of sleeping a couple of extra hours.
We both try to let each other get some extra sleep although it is so hard since neither child can keep quiet. I cannot imagine how we would do it in close quarters
My Dad always told us that the nice things we did for those outside of our home were meaningless if we didn't start by giving love and understanding to each other at home.
I do feel loved when my husband does those little things for me - and I try to do them for him too!
Clearly, your dad was a wise man.
When our first three were all three and under the VERY best thing Aaron and I could give each other was a little extra sleep. It really is the little things that count isn't it.