Four Things Every Man Should Tell His Wife

A lot of young husband (and wives too) think "I love you" are the only words needed for a thriving marriage. But this is not true. Indeed, many of us need to expand our marriage vocabulary.

Saying, “I love you, darling” is great. But we could do a lot more.

Some loving words or simple phrases could bring refreshing smiles to the heart of wives and indeed soothing relief in tough times. A lot of women want to hear and to feel safe, cherished, and appreciated.

These are the top four phrases a husband can say to his wife to put action behind the words, "I love you."

1.       "I thought about you today." 

Your spouse wants to know that even in the middle of a stressful day at the office, during a business lunch, or on your way to meet with a client, she crossed your mind.

Sometimes it’s as simple as, "We had rice and stew at Mr. Biggs for lunch and it made me think of you, because I know how much you love that place." Or, "We were in a meeting today talking about where the company needs help. I was sitting there thinking ‘Darling, you would know exactly what to do.’"

Letting your wife know you’re thinking about her is an easy way to communicate that she’s cherished. Not to mention the fact that, when it comes to Holly, the schoolboy part of me likes when she’s in the middle of my world.

2.       "Let me watch the kids tonight. You deserve a break." 

In two short sentences, you accomplish two big things. You give your wife valuable and much-needed time to herself. And you show her you respect what she does for your family.

Moms have a tough job - whether they work in the home or outside of the home. Our wives are awesome moms and they deserve our appreciation and hands-on help to lighten their loads.

Giving your wife some time alone will allow her to re-energize. Often, this puts her in a new space mentally and she comes home an even better mom and wife all because you put a little action behind your appreciation.

3.       "Can I pray for you about that?" 

We’ve all heard that our wives want a listener, not a fixer. But beyond this, I also believe our wives want a leader.

No matter how strong your wife is, she still wants you to lead. She may be independent and disciplined. But her greatest desire is for you to lead your family.

Wives want their hubbies to challenge them, and to push the family to new places spiritually, professionally, and purposefully. A wife will feel safe and secure in a marriage when she knows that her man is fulfilling his role as their leader.

If your wife is overwhelmed by something, listen to her. Then, when she‘s done talking it through ask if you can pray for her. You might be shocked by the level of respect, trust and love that blossoms out of her heart for you. Don't be shy. Step in and lead your wife in this area. You may feel awkward and hesitant at first, but trust me, she won't care. And you'll get better at it with time.

4.       "I’m turning off my phone and computer for the night." 

This one will blow your wife away. Shutting down your access to the outside world tells your darling your evening is about the two of you, your kids, your issues, your conversations, and your happiness. It is simply saying, “I just want us to be us”.

This kind of focus is almost unheard of, but it’s a must in today's world. Try to do this one night a week. Drop the distractions and make your family the main attraction. Watch how this small sacrifice will change your marriage.

These four small phrases could and would revolutionize your relationship. 

It seems like, in marriage, the small things are the big things. Being intentional in the small things makes a path for big love. Small steps of loyalty and concern lead to lifelong commitment. Sweat the small stuff. It really does matter.