For My Husband

Last week was my wonderful husband's birthday. I really wanted to make the day special for him. I'm afraid I don't show appreciation for him often enough and I really wanted him to know and feel that on his birthday. I thought and thought about it and even prayed about it. There weren't any gifts that he really wanted. Spending money on him doesn't make him feel loved. Saving money is the way to go for him. I even asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted me to surprise him. Finally the day before his birthday I got some ideas. We got him a few simple gifts: a movie he could watch with the kids and some of his favorite snack foods. I also planned to clean our bedroom (and as much of the rest of the house as we could possibly manage). It doesn't happen very often, but when it does it makes him very happy. And I planned to dress up for him. He always comments on Sunday's when I am dressed and ready to go to church how much he likes seeing me dressed up. On every other day I don't do my hair, I wear jeans and holey sneakers and a slightly nice t-shirt, and he comes home to pandemonium and is so patient about it all. I wanted his birthday, of all days, to be better! Things definitely didn't look so bright when we got up that morning. But I sent him off to work and then got to work myself. With some good help from the kids, who were a little more motivated that day, we had the important things cleaned up (including a very clean bedroom), the table set, the presents wrapped, the cake done, balloons put up, his favorite dinner ready to go on the table, and me showered, dressed, and smelling good when he got home. He was really surprised and had an enjoyable birthday.

But I've been thinking since then, why don't I do that more often? Or even just a little of it way more often. I don't have to wait for his birthday or other special occasions. I really enjoy making him happy and showing him rather than just telling him that I love him. Somehow it makes me love him even more.