7 Life Lessons I’ve Learned From My Husband
I’m telling my age to admit it, but my first computer was a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100. Back in the early 80’s, all incoming freshmen at Dallas Baptist University were required to buy one and to take a class that would teach us to use it.
Nevertheless, it was not until I met my future husband (three years and countless computer-printed assignments later) that I learned anything about the machine’s text-wrapping capabilities. For six long semesters, I’d kept a furtive watch on the LCD display and hit “return” every time the curser got close to the right-hand side of the screen, a holdover habit from years spent using a manual typewriter.
Within days of our first meeting, however, Doug observed my unusual approach to word processing and gently informed me that, if I would just keep typing, the text would automatically bump down to the next line without my doing anything to make it happen.
That one little pointer saved me massive amounts of time, completely revolutionized the way I did homework, and contributed even further to my rapidly growing affection for the guy I’d eventually marry.
What’s more, this was but the first of innumerable things he would teach me. Subsequent lessons have ranged from the practical (how to change the oil in my car, how to serve a volleyball, how to fend off an armed attacker) to the profound (how should our faith influence our actions? what does it mean to serve God with our whole heart? how can we most effectively communicate His love to others?).
Some of these concepts are just too good to keep to myself, so I’ve decided to publish seven of my favorites in a series of posts devoted to the “Life Lessons I’ve Learned from My Husband.” You’ll find a brief synopsis of each listed below:
- Keep Your Eyes on the Ball –
You must stay focused on your goals if you ever hope to reach them. - Laughter is Good Medicine –
A sense of humor makes good times more pleasant and bad times more bearable. - You Can Learn a Lot by Reading Fiction –
I used to think that reading fiction was a waste of time; now I know otherwise. - Perfectionism Is a Trap –
There are lots of areas in life where “good enough” should be good enough. - Always Tip Your Waiter Well –
Good service deserves it; poor service will be improved by it. - God Wants the Whole Pie –
He’ll never be satisfied with a single piece, no matter how big or promptly offered. - It’s Only Money –
Our security rests in God, not in the numbers on our bank statement.
I hope you’ll come back to read the full post for each point (which I’ll be publishing weekly), and that you will be as richly blessed as I have by these life-changing lessons.
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Go to LIFE LESSON #1 >>
Thank you soo much for your ever-so-needed wisdom. I’ve just now ran across your site while looking at a friends pics and subscriptions on fb. Please forgive me if I am shortening some of the wording. I’m trying to type from this “new age smartphone” that sometimes is smarter than I.
Anywho, my husband and I have been together going on 15 years now. He had à strong Pentecostal upbringing, myself à Baptist upbringing (which was ever present but not so strong, so I am currently trying to bring myself much closer to God and his love and teachings). My husband believes in and loves our Father and even though he was brought up in such a very strong Christian family and has personally witnessed our Fathers miraculous abilities to love, forgive, and personally witnessed his power of miracles in itself, my husband is a stubborn and or can I go so far as saying even at 48, à rebellious man. I do love him so but would love us to be MUCH closer to Him. I know that in itself would change our lives drastically and oh, so much for the better. You see, our entire relationship, we have, sometimes I truly feel like, been plagued by medical issues, most of the time severe in nature and seems never ending, especially with me. You see, he has severe back and neck injuries ongoing now better than 20 years and I have had issues stemming from à work injury shortly after we got together and within à year of that I had à ruptured appendix that uncovered à genetic blood disorder called Porphyria (please research this. It’s too long to describe.) that I have been hospitalized better than 25 times with as well as having more than 15 (+) surgeries with from complications of this disorder, along with complications from the medicines that they have had or tried me on over these crazy 15 years. Of course any marriage goes through rough patches, money issues and such but the medical issues in themselves have caused much harder times and problems with and on our marriage. Anyhow, first let me say I’m sorry for blowing up your blog but what I’m wanting to get to is this: I just read your post of the 25 ways to honor your husband and family and the 7 suggestions above (I’m sorry, I don’t remember the actual heading and can’t scroll back to it at the moment). We have gotten almost to the verge of splitting up over the last several months, and I have been trying to find “a reason” to continue. I still love him so and don’t want to go through another loss of that magnitude in my lifetime and I honestly don’t want to loose him or my marriage It’s just he and I have gotten to à point of constant argueing and discontent. So, when I read these posts, they touched something inside. I realized I haven’t been doing all I should to be honoring him as I should and not only me to him, him to me (I’m wanting him to read these as well but I really don’t think I’ll be able to convince him to but am going to try hard). I realized other things as well of course and am being touched more with each post I read.
I just really wanted to thank you for these and all the others that I’m sure will touch me more and more. I know that first and foremost the problem in our marriage is the lack of Father’s presence and I am trying to rectify that serious void. Thank you again.
Thanks so much
I am really enjoyin,this is a blessing for me
I have gained so much within these few hours I just stumbled on your page and started reading. Write-ups that have changed my perception about relationships. Thank you and God bless.
*like* … a lot! Looking forward to reading them all 🙂
Hello, I just recently found your blog via a friend and I have enjoyed looking around! Congrats on your anniversary by the way ;). I am looking forward to reading these 7 Lessons that God has used your husband to teach you… husbands are the most wonderful gift ;). Thank you for your time.
I stumbled uppon your blog via pintrest and I’m so glad I did! I’m about done with your book, and I have bean really enjoying it. Aside from that, I have also been liking your blog, as a newly wed I find it most helpful. Thank you so much.