4 things every husband desires from his wife.

This post is Part One in a two-part series on desires in marriage. You can read Part Two, “4 things every wife desires from her husband” by clicking here. For ongoing encouragement, please connect with me on twitter and subscribe to our email list.

My wife, Ashley, is my favorite person on earth. Seriously. In fact, I often feel badly for other men, because I know that I’ve already married the world’s coolest woman, so no matter who they marry, she couldn’t possibly be “the coolest!”

I believe every man should feel this way about his wife. Every husband desires to feel this way about his wife. I know that I feel this way about mine! I want to take just a minute to highlight a few of the countless reasons why I’m so thankful for my wife. I hope that her example can encourage and inspire improvements in your own marriage.

Ashley and me on our wedding day (5/19/01). She still looks the same but I look a lot older!

Every marriage is different, because every person is different, but I’m convinced that most husbands desire these attributes in their wives. Here are four of the trillion reasons why Ashley is Awesome:

1. She creates an inviting atmosphere in our home.

Husbands and wives both have unique responsibilities in the home, but God specifically gave women a powerful influence over the “tone” of the home. Ashley is a gifted Interior Designer, so our home is beautiful, but the real beauty of our home is in the encouraging and inviting atmosphere she creates. She fills our home with music whether she’s humming Praise Songs from church or belting broadway-style Tunes from Disney’s “Frozen.” Because of her, our home is a place I hate to leave and a place I can’t wait to get back to when I’m away!

To read God’s definition of a “Trophy Wife,” check out this passage from the Bible on “The Wife of Noble Character” from Proverbs 31.

2. She is an encourager (even when I don’t deserve it).

Ashley is an encourager, and because of her perpetual encouragement, it makes me feel like I can take on any challenge. As husbands, when we know our wives respect us and believe in us, it brings out the best in us! When she does need to offer constructive criticism, she does it in a loving and helpful way and she never airs my dirty laundry to her friends or on facebook for the world to see.

3. She works hard which challenges me to work hard.

Ashley is the hardest-working person I know. She gets up early and stays up late to make sure that her health, her household and her many other obligations are met with excellence. She is disciplined, focused and resourceful. She’s also a GREAT MOM (which requires a lot of work), and her work with the kids challenges me to be a better Dad.

4. Her beauty comes from within. 

I think she’s the prettiest woman on earth and she makes great effort to look her best (which I obviously appreciate), but that’s NOT the kind of beauty I’m talking about here. Real beauty comes from a heart filled with integrity, compassion, selflessness and grace. She’s got all that! I pray that my sons grow up a marry a girl like their Mom.

For more resources to strengthen your marriage, check out our newest book, Marriage Minute: Quick & Simple Ways to Build a Divorce-Proof Relationship which is now also available on iTunes for instant download on iPhones, iPads and all Apple devices.

Also, check out our new video series on building stronger sexual intimacy with your spouse.

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