I have to say, I am thankful the weekend is over. The weekend is over and Todd is back home.
Every year, Todd goes on a guys’ trip with his law school friends. Each year they choose a different destination that is close to where one of the guys lives and they play golf. I think they play something like 72 holes in three days. It’s a lot of golf, but they love it. And this is when of my favorite traditions. Because even though the wives don’t tag along, I love that Todd makes time every year to see his good friends and that they have this tradition that helps them all get recharged.
Almost all of them are dads now and I heard there were a lot of funny stories about how all of their lives have changed in the last few years as their families have grown.
While he was away, we just did our best to stay afloat. We didn’t have any plans, but I tried to give us a good mix of busy time and down time. Because too much time in the house with two little ones can get a little hairy.
And we really did okay, but there were just some rocky moments. The moments where I snap at Hudson because he disobeyed me for the fifteenth time. The moments where I think I’m going to lose my mind because Hudson is back-talking me while Hayes just walks all over the house and tries to get into everything.
I took the boys to get haircuts. Hudson tolerated it and sat pretty still, yet still ended up with a choppy haircut. And Hayes absolutely lost his mind. He loathed the entire hair-cutting process. But still ended up looking pretty dapper.
But we played with RC, PC, and Nana a lot. We went to Krispie Kreme and the park. When they went to bed, I ate a Reese’s peanut butter cupcake and watched The Hunger Games.  We had a good weekend in the end, and I know it’s good for me to have the boys by myself for a few days at a time a few times each year.
It’s times like this, when I’m alone with them for days at a time, that I realize how truly grateful I am for my husband. I am grateful for him all the time, but when I really am able to see how much his presence alone “saves us” all each day, I am even more grateful. He is our glue in our little family of four, and I need that glue because lately I’ve been becoming unglued quite a lot. (If you haven’t read Lysa’s book, you must!)
Knowing every afternoon that Todd is coming home from work just gives us all a little bit of excitement about the end of the day. Daddy’s coming home and everyone gets excited.
And, way too often, I use the time that Todd gets home to just unload. I tell him about the things the boys got into. I tell him about how the dogs barked at everyone who walked by and woke the kids up. I tell him about the pushy salesman who came to our door and wouldn’t go away. I just unload. And I unload on a hard-working man who, no doubt, had his fair share of “stuff” going on all day.
While Todd was away, I recognized even more the importance of praying for him. We have a lot going on these days, and as we talk about selling our house and moving into another one, I can only imagine the pressure he feels as the sole provider for our family. There’s pressure to be the leader in every single way, including the spiritual leader.
He does so much for us all, but loving us is what he does best.
Hudson absolutely pushes me to my limit because he’s with me all day. And each day I know that when Todd gets home, the day is going to turn a corner because he is so excited to see his daddy. And I love that it’s that way. I wish that Hudson and I didn’t butt heads as much, but it’s just because I’m here with him all day.
I’ve talked before about my struggling prayer life, but lately I’ve just been praying for my husband. And praying that God is going to give him the wisdom and courage to lead us through each family decision and each bit of change. I pray that he is often recharged and is blessed in his relationships and blessed by his work.
I pray that he has a teachable spirit and shows signs of leadership at work and at church. I pray that he seeks the Lord’s will first in the midst of pressure from everyone around him, including me. There are so many moments when I make a suggestion and Todd knows it’s just not the right thing, and while he wants to please me, he has to tell me why what I want just isn’t going to work.
We’re thankful for Todd.
My other prayer is that I always show him the respect that he deserves. He is a loving husband, a wonderful father, and I couldn’t ask for more from the spiritual leader of our household. Our kids adore him and we miss him when he’s away. We’re glad he’s home!
How are you praying for your husband?
What a great post, Erin. Thank you for sharing your heart on this matter. I know my husband needs me to pray for him as he’s juggling a demanding new position at work and preparing to be a dad for the first time. This post encourages me to pray for him and even gives me a few points to pray for him specifically.
Awww, the first time parent thing is so special and so huge. Y’all are going to do great, especially since your relationship is Christ-centered. Congratulations.
In the book, The Power of a Praying Wife, there is a simple list of 30 ways to pray for your husband. I wrote them down on an index card when we first got married and prayed through them faithfully one per day. I let the habit slide a few years later, found the list again several months ago and was convicted to start it up again. It’s a great, easy way to pray for your husband in different areas and keep you on track.
I love that book so much. Someone gave it to all the girls in a moms group I was a part of, and it really is such a great book.
What a nice post. I’ve recently started praying for my husband, too. I pray that God will help me be the partner he needs, and to help him feel encouraged, fulfilled, and uplifted now that his workload is getting more stressful. Wishing you many blessings!
Wow Erin, this post was a great start to my day. This has encouraged me to spend the entire day praying for my husband. I usually pray for him in the mornings as he’s on his way to work. When I hear other mom’s complain about doing it all I often feel weird because my husband is very hands on. I do ALOT but I don’t do it all. As the leader of our family he has a lot of responsibilities and he never complains. He recently went on a guys trip for his bday. I think it’s a good idea to have time away to get recharged. Good job and shout out to my Honeyboo for being such a great husband and father!
This post is a real inspiration for me! My husband is also an attorney and went to a part time schedule after we had our first child (we have 2 boys! 4 and 21 months). His dedication to our family and caring for the boys is more than I ever imagined. I am blessed to have him as a husband and friend. This post has encouraged me to pray for my husband with purpose. Thank you!
I adore this post Erin. Such a great reminder for us wives.
awesome post! great reminder!
I am forwarding this to my husband. You said everything I have had on my heart lately, but have not been able to put into words.
You are so right that we (as wives) need to pray for our husbands. I totally agree that is is their God-given role to lead the famly spiritually and it is our role to be his help-mate. I struggle with wondering if I am doing a good job helping my husband. I do my best to make sure he knows that his work at home and out of the home is appreciated. I don’t know what I would do without my husband who insists on getting up in the night with our son and insists that I go and do things by myself (occasionally) and willingly steps up and wants to spend time with his son. We have wonderful hubby’s it sounds like. 🙂 Also there is just something about Daddy’s and their sons, they light up when they see each other! I will be honest that Jonah doesn’t “light up” every time he sees me. LOL
Random things- when he was looking to buy a car I prayed that he choose something safe & reliable and thought of us as opposed to just what he wanted, when he has job interviews I pray that things go well or that they work out according to His Will, when he’s traveling for his safety but in general I thank God for him and for his job that helps provide for us.
what a great post! although I am not married yet, I try to pray for my future husband every day! I pray that the Lord is preparing our hearts even now as we aren’t together. I pray that he is preparing them to be ready at the exact same time (hopefully sooner rather then later ;p ) I pray for many things for him, but that is the main one. It’s so important to pray for them 😀
What a great post and important reminder to all to pray for our husbands no matter what the situation is.
Thank you for this. I was reading it as my husband was leaving for working and gathering his things loudly, albeit while the baby slept.. I was starting to get annoyed, like I do sometimes. This post helped me remember to be ever thankful for a loving, supportive, brave, kind, honest husband…even if he bangs around while the baby is sleeping.
I just laughed out loud. That is SO funny. Todd is also very very noisy in the mornings when he’s getting ready for the day. But I am so thankful and love him so much!
Such a great post Erin, as usual. I sat down the other day and really thought about the pressure my husband feels. To provide for us, to make the decisions for us, and to lead us spiritually. He’s a leader 24/7 and holy wow, the pressure. So now I just pray that God will give him strength to make his decisions and the peace of knowing when he’s making the right ones.
Oh, friend. I am praying for y’all. You are all under tremendous pressure, but I know that God is taking care of you and opening doors along the way.
Erin, what a great post. As a fellow SAHM to two boys I also find myself quick to unload on my husband the minute he walks in the door. Just this past weekend I was annoyed when after a terribly long week with the boys he told me he wold be gone Sat. And Sun. for a fantasy football draft. Then on Sunday when he took the boys out or a few hours so I could have time to myself, I got annoyed when I woke up and realized he took my car with my purse inside. I need to remember to pray for my husband and remember that he works hard too. Thank you for that.
Thanks for such a great post. It really convicted me about praying for and supporting my husband more than I do. He is a great leader and loves and serves and sacrifices for me and our boys so much. And he’s unloaded on a lot! I love and appreciate him a TON, I just need to work on communicating that to him more and praying for him specifically and intentionally. Thanks for the reminder.
Loved this post because it’s such an important thing to pray for your husband. They’re bombarded with so much throughout their days and have so much responsibility as the leaders/providers of our homes. There’s nothing the enemy would love more than to take down our husbands and in turn destroy our families. I see it happen so often which is why I take it very seriously.
I pray with Amelia every night before bed and I take that time to pray for Alex. I usually pray for so long that she falls asleep so it’s a win-win. LOL
Great post.
What an insightful post Erin, and thank you for sharing your heart and prayers with us. I love everything you said! There are times when my hubby can get on my nerves or not do things “exactly” as I would do them, but I am so grateful he’s here. What ever would I do without him!?! I need to pray for him just as much as I do for our son Rhys – it’s so important!
This is incredibly sweet. In the event I ever need to remember this, I’ll bookmark it.
Great post. My husband and his friends always enjoy a guys weekend for an away SEC football game. How fun is that?!? Maybe one year we can convince them to let the wives tag along!
I have come to realize lately just how much I appreciate my husband too, I really need to make more of a conscious effort to pray for him daily.
Yes! My husband just returned from 8 days of mostly no-contact Army training, and I was praying for him too! I prayed for relationships he has told me about that might not be going smoothly, for wisdom, strength, and success.
Also, thanks so much for being honest about snapping at your sweet boys. I was short and impatient with my precious daughters several times this past week and it made me so sad afterward.
It’s so tough. I completely snap and then seconds later I am overcome with guilt over how I’ve spoken to them. It’s really hard.
What a great post Erin and such a perfectly timed reminder for me. With the new job and move to a new area I need to pray for my husband. He’s been traveling every other week for work and it’s been a hard adjustment. I know it’s all part of God’s plan though and I just need to trust Him and keep praying for our little family, especially my husband.
This is a great reminder, thank you. And it’s so reassuring to hear that my dog isn’t the only one that wakes the baby up! 😉
wow, what a beautiful post. the answer is no, i haven’t been praying for him,
but i’m going to start. TODAY!