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Erin Franco

10 Ways to Encourage Your Husband

Humble Handmaid· Marriage

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2015 3 May
– 1 – 
Be kind to him.
I read a great blog post once about being a kind wife. Joy said that she gave her husband a long list of things she could do for him every day. She wanted him to pick those things on the list that were most important to him. She wrote things like, “bake fresh bread for your lunches,” “keep up with the laundry,” and “maintain a clean, picked up house.” After she gave him the list, he returned it to her with all the items on the list scratched through. At the top of the list, he wrote something that speaks for itself:

“...Get enough rest and say no to enough activities so that you have the energy to be NICE TO ME (and the kids) when I’m home. Honestly, I appreciate the rest of it, but don’t really care that much if it comes at the expense of the first two things up at the top of the list. Maybe you think that I think you’re a bad wife or mom if you don’t do this stuff. If so, that is wrong. I would much rather have a messy house, make my own lunches from white, store-bought bread, have no snacks, etc. etc., but have a nice, happy wife who likes me, than the other way around… It’s my best friend I fell in love with and want to hang out with, not my maid!”

– 2 – 
Say “thank you”
I know it sounds cheesy. But thank your husbands. For working to support you and the kids. For being tired and stressed out ultimately for your sake. For being cooped up in an office on a beautiful day when he’d rather be spending time with his family or doing something outdoors. For being a good man. Find a way to thank him that is genuine, though. I promise he’ll be blown away, even if he doesn’t act like it.
– 3 – 
Take a Mommy’s Night Out

Shoot for the stars and go once per week if at all possible. Or start with once per month, if that’s the season of life you’re in right now. Don’t you dare feel guilty about leaving those precious babies for a few hours. Or your husband. They’ll be just fine, I promise. When you have this regular time away for personal recreation and recollection, you will naturally come back a better wife and mother. Even if your husband balks at first about letting you take a couple of hours a week “off,” be understanding but firm. He will come around when he finds that he has a more balanced, happy wife.

– 4 – 
Make his lunch

Growing up, a sandwich always tasted better when my Mom made it for me. Michael loves when I make his lunch for him, even when it’s usually just leftovers. Having me pack up last night’s pot roast and mashed potatoes with an orange and a granola bar every morning is just something that means a lot to him. A special thing that I do additionally, though, is pick out an encouraging Bible verse to scribble on some scratch paper and tuck into his lunch bag for him.

– 5 – 
Text or email him during the day

“Hope you’re having a good day, sweetie. Get excited for dinner–I’m making something special tonight. See you this afternoon. :)” Michael really likes when I communicate with him during the day. Some people may not have the luxury of being able to call or text their spouse at work, but if you can, definitely do it! And don’t call just to ask when they’re coming home and if they can pick up milk on the way home. Call them to see how they’re doing. Call them without wanting something from them. And sometimes, call him just to tell him that you can’t wait to give him a big fat kiss and then some when he gets home.

– 6 – 
Ask his opinion

I realized some time ago that I almost never asked Michael for his opinion on things. I’m not talking about what to wear to so-and-so’s wedding. I’m talking about his opinion on if an action I’m considering is appropriate. Or if he thinks a swimsuit I’m considering buying is too immodest. Or if he thinks a blog post I’m writing is charitable enough. I have been blown away by his responses sometimes. Asking for your husband’s opinion communicates respect.

– 7 – 
Praise him in public

Sometimes we wives can fall into the trap of making fun of our husbands–or outright complaining about them–in front of others, whether our husbands are present or not. There’s a place for fun and gentle poking at one another, but oh-how-powerful is the witness of a couple who speak well of one another in the presence of others. “Michael is really good at that, actually. He’s helped me work on myself in that area so much since we got married!” “I’m so proud of him lately…he’s working 13-hour days and you know what?–the man hardly complains!” Speak about your husband to others in a way that shows your respect for him. He will notice. And like the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman, “the heart of [your] husband will trust in [you], and he will have no lack of gain” (Proverbs 31:11).

– 8 – 
Be his loudest cheerleader

My husband is a dreamer. He’s a vibrant, ambitious, intelligent, charismatic, going-places kind of guy. And he needs me to have faith in him. Most of the time, I don’t have to try. He’s amazing and he takes incredible care of our family. But if he fails, he needs me to communicate my faith in him. That’s my job. He needs me to be his his loudest cheerleader. And he needs me to cheer from my heart.

– 9 – 
Watch your tongue
Deal with yourself, first and always. Watch your tone of voice. Collect yourself before you speak or react. Don’t be confrontational. As women, we have these incredibly interconnected emotions and thoughts, and we have to be careful that we don’t let the mess in our heads come out and make a mess out of our communication with our husbands. Think about it. If another person came up to your husband and acted or spoke to him like you do sometimes, how would he naturally feel and react? I’ve seen so many men completely shut down when their wives speak to them harshly. Don’t be one of them.

– 10 – 
Be playful

Our husbands are our best friends. One thing friends do is laugh together. Call him in the room when the kids do something funny. When he asks for a big glass of water, fill up your biggest pitcher when he’s not looking and casually serve it to him. Text him a picture of a Ferrari you sat in traffic next to on the interstate. Give him a go-get-’em whack on the behind as he’s walking out the door to work. Surprise him by doing something goofy when he least expects it. Better yet, suggest something fun you could do together later after the kids go to bed. Ahem. He’ll love it. He’ll love you.

* * *
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17 Comments · Last Updated: July 9, 2015

Previous Post: « Joy makes us a mountain
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Comments

  1. deborah says

    February 3, 2016 at 3:54 am

    I love that so I will change the way have been treating him .

    Reply
  2. keelyroa says

    March 12, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    Thank you, Erin! It was really great to read this and get a breath of fresh air… sometimes we need reminders like these! Keep it up girl! I'm sending good energy your way!!

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      May 5, 2015 at 5:57 pm

      I LOVE your comment about a breath of fresh air–that was my intention.:) And girl, I need all the good energy I can get! God bless you and yours:)

      Reply
  3. nancy vasquez says

    May 2, 2014 at 8:59 am

    I'm glad I found this, I love my husband and I relationship, but there's always room for improvement, & these lessons are great!!

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      May 5, 2015 at 5:56 pm

      So glad to hear that, Nancy:)

      Reply
  4. Daisy Webb says

    August 23, 2013 at 2:11 am

    I read that and my heart changed. My husband is in the military and he works so hard everyday not just protect the U.S. but it means so much to him that we are safe and o.k. We just celebrated our 4th anniversary last weekend. And we have been having problems. Two weeks ago I almost ended our marriage but being married to a man of God, that didn't happen he did whatever he had to for our marriage even way above his career. God showed this is who He gave me and I should be nothing but grateful for him. Thanks so much for this blog it truly showed me how much I need to love my husband.

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      May 5, 2015 at 5:58 pm

      Wow. I got chills reading your note. It's so much about dealing with ourselves, first and always. Praying right now for you and your marriage. Remember that God wants abundance for you and for your marriage. Your marriage has as much potential as God has power.

      Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    June 13, 2013 at 3:15 am

    Oh my gosh how I needed this tonight!!!

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      May 5, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Don't you love how God works?!

      Reply
  6. busymomof10 says

    March 19, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    I was searching for an image to use in my blog post of the same topic as yours and discovered your blog! This is a Fabulous post! I love it! You have shared some very practical tips with a great fun-loving attitude! Thanks for sharing! Come visit me at http://www.yestheyareallours.com

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      March 20, 2013 at 1:16 am

      Thanks so much! I like your blog too! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Joylyn M. says

    October 18, 2012 at 2:11 pm

    This is awesome. Thanks for sharing. I really needed this for my marriage.

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      May 5, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Yes ma'am. God bless you and yours.

      Reply
  8. bella<3edward says

    March 17, 2012 at 2:37 am

    Oh, Erin! I was laughing so hard at the water pitcher part! I'm gonna do it. I just love your blog 🙂

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      August 18, 2012 at 12:44 pm

      I know! That was a hilarious moment for sure! So glad you read my blog. It means a lot when you comment–thank you for all of your encouragement and sweetness to me! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Katherine Lee says

    March 16, 2012 at 1:20 am

    beautiful! found your blog through Reverenced Reading- my husband and I are going on a year in June. Gotta love God's plan! -Katie

    Reply
    • Erin Franco says

      August 18, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      Congratulations! So glad you love HH. It's an honor to have you:) How do you know Dc. Kyle?

      Reply

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Hi there!

I'm a south Louisiana girl, Catholic wife, writer, speaker, and mother of six. Since I started my blog way back in 2009, life has been a roller coaster of babies, plot twists and a plane crash or two. I've been chronicling things here as I've been learning to love and suffer and laugh and trust in the goodness of God in the ordinary and the extraordinary--with a little espresso and a lot of Divine Mercy. Read More…

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