Husband Appreciation Day | JOY for Today

The more we think about what we appreciate in our husbands, the more appreciation we will have for them. The more we communicate that appreciation, the more JOY we'll find in our marriages. It's a simple step worth taking.

Husband Appreciation Day | April's Third Saturday

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Five facts about husbands.
• Wolfe Stew Connects to showing appreciation by being a better wife.
• Bible Verses and Quotes About husbands.
• Activity Suggestions: Read books, watch movies, talk, and write about appreciated traits in husbands.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: 

• Earth Day (April 22nd Annually)
• Honesty Day (April 30th Annually)
• National Day of Prayer (May's First Thursday - 5/2/2024)

Did You Know:

1. Husbands pay attention even when they aren't looking at you? Women and men listen differently. While women prefer face-to-face conversation, men lean towards shoulder-to-shoulder interaction. So, even though your husband may not be looking at you, he's still likely listening. And, time interacting with him while not talking is as valuable to him as a good conversation is to you. (Woman's Day & Love & Respect, p. 244)
2. Husbands need to know they are appreciated? To feel supported, wives need husbands to show them warmth and affection. Husbands, however, feel supported when their wives show they appreciate and need them. (Woman's Day & Love & Respect)
3. Husbands agree on what it means to be a good man? Michael Kimmel, a sociologist, asked men world-over what it means to be a good man. The answers were strikingly similar: "Honor, duty, integrity, sacrifice, do the right thing, stand up for the little guy, be a provider, be a protector." (The Toxic War on Masculinity, p. 19)
4. Husbands who attend church regularly are happier in their marriages? Seventy percent of husbands with regular church attendance report a "very happy" level of marriage satisfaction compared with 59 percent of husbands who rarely or never attend church. Moreover, husbands who attend church are less likely to cheat on their wives, get divorced, or engage in domestic violence. Ninety-three percent of couples who attend church together and believe God is central to their marriage report being "very happy" or "happy" in their marriage. (The Toxic War on Masculinity, p. 42)
5. Husbands can learn some valuable lessons from husbands in the Bible? From Abraham, a husband learns obedience to God no matter the circumstance (Genesis 12). From Moses, a husband learns to intercede for the ones he loves, even when the need for intercession was because of a wrong done to him (Numbers 12). From Joseph, a husband learns to seek understanding and practice patience in the face of unfathomable situations (Matthew 1:18-25). From Boaz, a husband learns to provide, protect, and cherish his wife even though others reject her (Ruth 2). And from Jacob, a husband learns what it means to determinedly pursue your wife (Genesis 29:16-28). (What Christians Want to Know)

We'd Love to Know:   

Which fact about husbands intrigues you?

Wolfe Stew Connects

My husband's birthday is right around the corner and the task of finding him a gift is upon me. While I know he is perfectly content if I get him nothing (because it frees him to choose his own gift), I want to show I truly appreciate him and give him something that says that. He loves receiving gifts, so it is important. 

But, beyond gift-giving, how can a wife show her husband she truly appreciates him on a daily basis?

The Bible instructs a wife to: 

1. Submit to her husband as to God, being subject to him in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24, 1 Peter 3:6, Titus 2:4-5 & See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:30.) 
1. Trust his leadership. Commend the effective decisions he makes, the positive example he sets, and the selfless love he shares. 
2. Let him help you with your problems and your brokenness. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:20.)
3. Do not fear. Face opposition knowing his strength supports you. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:17.)
2. Reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 & Titus 2:4-5)
1. Speak well of him, with honesty not flattery. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:31.)
2. Fix your mind on his good qualities. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:23.)
3. Practice peace. (Proverbs 21:19 & Titus 2:4-5)
1. Choose not to argue. 
2. Give your anger to God. 
3. Be gracefully honest. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:26.)
4. Remind yourself who and whose you are. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:22 & 25.)
5. Understand, accept, and cherish compliments. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:29.)
4. Remain faithful. (Hebrews 13:4. See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:11 & 30.)
1. Find satisfaction in your husband alone. (I Corinthians 7:2)
2. Run from every lustful temptation, no matter how small. (I Corinthians 6:18-20)
3. Say yes to him. (I Corinthians 7:3-5)
5. Build her house. (Proverbs 14:1 & Titus 2:4-5)
1. Feed your household with Godly nourishment. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:15.)
2. Make God-honoring decisions even when they are the harder option. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:14.)
3. Expect the best, prepare for the worst. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:21.)
4. Be alert. Guard your household. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:27 & Proverbs 31:19.)
5. Listen to feedback and adjust accordingly, so long as it does not compromise your faith. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:28.)
6. Do good. (Titus 2:4-5) 
1. Choose your work carefully and work diligently to honor God, not man. (Colossians 3:23. See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:16. )
2. Be confident in the effects of your efforts by working in the light of faith even in the face of darkness. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:18.)
3. Minister to those who hunger for righteousness. Seek to heal the brokenhearted. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:20 & 24.)
7. Be equally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14)
1. Expect each other to put God first. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:30.)
2. Encourage each other in displaying truth and grace. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:13.)
3. Fan the flame of faith when you notice a smoldering wick. (See my thoughts on Proverbs 31:18.)
4. Treat each other respectfully and honorably as joint heirs. (I Peter 3:7)
5. You're a team, so leave and cleave. (Genesis 2:24)

A wife who works to fulfill even one of these regularly is showing her husband appreciation. And, as our husbands are a gift from God to us, they certainly deserve our appreciation. What's more, in learning to appreciate our husbands, we're also learning how to better appreciate Jesus, our eternal husband. So, let's commit to showing our husbands how deeply we care for them. In doing so, we'll add JOY to our marriages! What marriage couldn't use more of that?

In response:

1. Choose one thing. One habit you'll start today. One thought you'll refuse to think. One honest compliment you promise to share. Then, do it.
2. Join us as we study Isaiah and work to understand our eternal husband. Last week, we read about an unexpected and miraculous union that provided a blessing to everyone around it - similar to the way our marriages will be as we let God work through them. 

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses 

• "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24 KJV
• "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church." Ephesians 5:28-29 KJV
• "Marriage should be honored by everyone, and husband and wife should keep their marriage pure [the marriage bed should be kept undefiled]. God will judge [as guilty] those who take part in sexual sins [the sexually immoral and adulterers]." Hebrews 13:4 EXB
• "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Ephesians 5:33 KJV
• "Her husband is known at the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land." Proverbs 31:23 KJV

Quotes

• "A good husband makes a good wife." - John Florio
• "I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect, and I loved you even more." - Angelita Lim
• "Faithfulness to your husband means sticking up for him, always building him up, and never tearing him down." - Myles Munroe
• "For the two of us, home isn't a place. It's a person. And we are finally home." - Stephanie Perkins
• "I know what it is to live entirely for and with what I love best on earth. I hold myself supremely blest - - blest beyond what language can express; because I am my husband's life as fully as he is mine." - Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote makes you think about why you appreciate your husband?

Activity Suggestions

Watch Movies/Shows Featuring Husbands

Ranked in order of increasingly mature subject matter.

• "Parent Trap" Twin sisters, separated at birth, meet each other at a summer camp and devise a plan to switch places in an attempt to get their parents back together.
• "Beethoven" It takes a while for George Newton, the husband in this film, to bond with the slobbering dog his children adore. But when Beethoven is dognapped, the family works together to get him back.
• "Home Alone" After realizing they left their child at home, Kate and Peter McCallister spend their Christmas vacation trying to get back to him. 
• "Lost in Space" A family works together to explore the universe and survive extreme danger.

Read Books Featuring Husbands

• Picture Books: The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Join this family of bears as they encounter life changing events, overcome challenges, and learn hard lessons. With over 200 books to choose from, this family will become part of your own.
• Chapter Books: Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol. Leroy Brown's dad is a police chief who shares his cases at the dinner table. Join this father and son team in solving the most challenging ones.

Write about Positive Qualities of Husbands

After watching a movie or reading a book that includes husbands in it, briefly discuss what things the husband did or said that received (or should have received) appreciation from his family (or wife). What did [character's name] do that helped his family?

• PreK-1st: Write a sentence that explains what made a specific character a good husband.
• 2nd-3rd: Make a list of positive character traits of good husbands. Label which character showed each trait.
• 4th-6th: Write an opinion paragraph with evidence that explains why one of the husbands was better than the rest.

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Be with someone who makes you laugh or helps you look at the world differently?
• Build a project with a friend and only talk about the project or just sit and talk about anything for 30 minutes?
• Wait seven years to get what you want or stick up for someone who was incredibly mean to you?

These questions are unique to this post. If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every April day, download this Wolfe Stew PowerPoint or get it (for free!) at our TPT store.

Take on the Family Challenge

Talk about what it means to be a good husband. Is being a good husband different than being a good man? How? Does everyone need to marry? What are some good reasons to marry and good reasons to remain single?

We'd Love to Know:

What's a book or movie for kids featuring a great husband that we missed?

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. 

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Sample these related posts:

To find JOY in marriage.

To honor your spouse.

To team up as parents.

To celebrate being single.

To remember that love does conquer all.

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.

*Image credit: Couple Silhouette by Clker-Free-Vector-Images at Pixabay