Ellen Chauvin's Blog

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack. Walking on the hardwood floors, my shoes sounded like a freight train rolling down the tracks at midnight. Only a long, slow, mournful whistle was missing.  Clickety-clack, woo-woooo woo-woooo.

Glancing down, I saw something lodged between the ridges in my tennis shoe. A rock. It wasn’t the first time I’d had to dig boulders out of these particular shoes.

“I love wearing them, but these shoes sure do pick up a lot of rocks!”

So do you, Ellen.

Hmmm, it’s so true. Listening to His still, small voice, I realized I pick up a rock or even a boulder and try to carry it. Sometimes I’ll take on a load of rocks. I imagine you do the same!

This makes for heavy baggage we can’t carry alone. It’s always with us, clickety-clacking while we walk. You know, kinda like the rock in my shoes.

Do you carry burdens that you shouldn’t? Things like these:

Fear.

Worries.

“What ifs.”

Guilt. 

Discouragement.

Busyness.

Does the weight of the rocks stuck in your shoes slow you down? Do you trudge through each day because your load has become too heavy? That’s because we shouldn’t carry all the weight all alone. And some rocks we shouldn’t pick up at all. Our regular daily burdens are not ours to carry. We are to walk in obedience to God and trust Him to do the heavy lifting in our lives.

Jesus said to consider the lilies — they don’t strive, yet God provides (Matthew 6:25-24). And God does. His supply of grace for the moment is enough. 

 Is there someone you can prayerfully share your heavy load with? Seek them out! Ask them to pray for you.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV

Have you brought the weight of your cares to Jesus? When you do, He will give you rest. Jesus cares for you!

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 NLT

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV

Now is the time to let go of the stones. Identify the burden weighing you down and surrender it to Jesus. Then, trust that He will sustain you. Dig those rocks out of your shoes and surrender them to Him. You will be surprized at how light your load has become! 

The post Is It Time to Lay Down Your Burden? first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

It’s official: I have the summer doldrums. The South Louisiana heat has taken its toll on me. The dictionary defines doldrums as a period of stagnation or slump. They have even affected my writing. I’m in a slump. I haven’t wanted to move or DO anything; I want to sit in the comfort of a cool, air-conditioned home.

Until that morning…

It was early. It was a Monday morning. Not being a morning person, I rarely notice anything. Unless it’s hundreds of happy faces smiling brightly at me. They were sunflowers! Planted in a sugarcane field!

Their faces brought me so much joy. How had I missed them on the way to church yesterday? Why were they planted in the sugarcane fields?

There are several reasons cane farmers are planting sunflowers in the off-season:

Those beautiful sunflowers shade the soil and help suppress weeds.

The sunflowers have their own subsoil community (nematodes [worms, ugh!], bacteria, fungi, etc.) which flourishes in the thin layer of soil around the roots. This is a different subsoil community than the sugar cane roots. And this enriches the soil for cane growth.

After harvesting the sunflowers, their stems can be left in the field. The sunflower stems mulch and enrich the soil, further supporting the cane growth.

Young sunflower buds follow the sun, but once the flower head opens, it faces east permanently.

They are beautiful and make people happy!

     There’s more to sunflowers than the agricultural facts, though. Here are three lessons I learned:

1. Follow the Son. So much is vying for our attention these days. So many people to “follow” on social media. But the only One we need to follow is Jesus. Sparkly things catch our eyes, distract us, and pull us away from Him. Follow Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him. “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2. Pray through the storms. I missed the sunflowers when I passed them earlier because it was cloudy and raining. The young sunflower blooms were facing down. Their heads were “bowed.” When stormy weather comes and circumstances overwhelm us, pray. Bow your head and heart and talk to Jesus. He will calm the storm. “He (Jesus) got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.” Luke 8:24 NIV

3. Grow among the weeds. The field contained some weeds alongside the sunflowers. But the weeds didn’t stop the sunflowers from growing! The beautiful flowers continued to grow. We will face “weeds” in our lives that can choke our growth in the Lord. But the Son brings us nourishment. And God is our Gardener—He will remove any weeds that cause us to struggle in our walk with Him. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:1 CSB

The sunflowers were beautiful and brought me great joy. But they also taught me some valuable lessons! And they encouraged me to grow sunflowers! Now I have a small square of smiling faces in my own front yard.

-What brings you joy and delight?

-When have you slowed down to notice something lately?

Grace be with you,

The post Growing Toward the Son: Lessons from Sunflowers first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

Have you ever seen a sunset so breathtaking that words could not describe it? The colors are so vibrant that mere words can’t do it justice. Who has words when your heart and soul are filled with wonder, and you are awestruck? In several nuggets of scripture, the writers show us the awe and wonder of God. We can see that they were overwhelmed by His presence and His glory.

 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 CSB

Isaiah never describes seeing God’s face. He describes how the hem of God’s robe fills the temple.

Could it be that Isaiah was so filled with awe and reverence that he bowed and could only see the hem of God’s robe? And if the hem fills the temple, how much more the rest of God’s glory?

 And they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Exodus 24:10 NASB

We see in Exodus that Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s eldest sons, and the seventy elders went up the mountain to ratify the covenant before God. They couldn’t describe God’s face. They only saw the pavement beneath His feet.

 Could it be that they were prostrated before Him in awestruck wonder? Apparently, the sight was so grand that their eyes saw only below His feet. 

And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Revelation 4:3 NASB

In Revelation, John was before the throne of God. He never describes what God looks like, but John has a detailed description of the throne around God. John had no words for the glory shining around him. Awestruck!

Scripture tells us that no one can see God and live. Got Questions⁠1 describes it this way:

“When God told Moses, ‘You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live’ (Exodus 33:20), He was saying that truly seeing God as He is, in the fullness of His glory, is more than mortal man can tolerate (cf. Isaiah 6:5, emphasis mine).”

God’s glory is more than we can handle in this life. Oh, but in the life to come, we will see Him! 

They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Revelation 22:4

All those who have received Christ by faith are brought into the new heaven and new earth to be with Jesus for all eternity (Revelation 21:1–6). It is there that believers will get to look on His face. It will be more than we could ask or imagine. We will be speechless and awestruck!

For His glory,

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1 https://www.gotquestions.org/God-Mose...

The post Awestruck by God’s Glory first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

Do you like appetizers? My husband and I do! Some evenings, instead of a nice meal with meat and veggies, we will throw together some of our favorite appetizers. Small bites that are so scrumptious, they satisfy our hunger.

Scripture has appetizers, too! It’s those small connections you see that make you go “Ahhh, that’s beautiful. I’ve never noticed that before.”

I call these scriptural appetizers Bible Bites. Here’s one I saw recently that I’d like to share with you.

While I was reading and studying Leviticus (yes, I did. I read Leviticus. It was not part of a One Year Bible Reading Plan. I CHOSE to read and study it! Call me crazy!) I saw two verses that seemed familiar to me.  

“Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Leviticus 26:11-12, NASB

I know this verse, but it certainly wasn’t from reading Leviticus so often! Where have I seen it before?

After some digging and searching, I found it. And it’s from an equally challenging chapter of scripture: Revelation.

  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them” Revelation 21:3, NASB

What a beautiful picture it painted:

God is with us from beginning to end. From the garden to the grave and beyond. He always walks with us. We are His people, and He is our God.

Isn’t that glorious? Such a small bite of scripture, but oh, so satisfying! A little nugget of truth to carry with us and chew (meditate) on throughout the day.

Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 CSB

Grace be with you,

The post Bible Bites: From Beginning to End, God is with Us first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

This month marks thirty years—count ‘em, THIRTY YEARS—that John and I have been married.  Who woulda thunk it? Last week, I regaled you with stories of our wedding and honeymoon. This year, I’ll share an anniversary story or two! I hope you enjoy them as much as I love telling them.

Wedding bells rang for us on May 25, 1996. ALMOST six months after the wedding (November 12, 1996), I emailed John to tell him I had a little surprise to give him for our six-month anniversary (World’s Finest Chocolate candy bar WITH almonds. He loves them!).

John told his co-worker, “Ellen has a present for me. Today is our six-month anniversary!” 

“I thought y’all got married at the end of the month—like around Memorial Day?” 

“You’re right! We got married on the 25th of May…” 

Back at my job, I’m in ignorant bliss. I can’t wait to get home and give my new hubby his present. I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself. That’s why I had to e-mail him. I wanted him to know I thought about him on our first milestone. I mean, six months, what an accomplishment!

At 5:30 that afternoon, I walked through the door of our home, candy bar hidden behind my back. I was grinning from ear to ear. Then I saw John’s face. In that instant, I realized what I had done. I messed up BIG TIME! I got the day confused with my ex-anniversary date (12th versus 25th)! OH NO! Was my face red! But he forgave me and ate his candy bar anyway.

On our first anniversary, I received a beautiful bouquet at work. I opened the card, anticipating a sentimental message from my sweet man. The card read “Thank you for the best 12 years of my life! Love, John” 

12 YEARS?!?! How about 12 MONTHS!!!

Oops! The florist messed up the message…or was it payback for the six-month anniversary fiasco on the 12th of November?!?

With that not-so-stellar beginning to our marriage, some people may have thought we would never make it thirty years. Praise God, we did!

Overall, it’s been a wonderful and fun three decades. Yes, we’ve had some bumps in the road, but we didn’t let them drag us down. The most important thing we have done for our marriage is to place Jesus Christ at the center. Has this been easy? Are we perfect at this? No, but with God’s grace, we persevere. 

 I was thinking about our years together last week. I wept with joy, so thankful for the man God brought into my life to be my forever husband. Scripture tells us to remember the things God has done for us. I am remembering today that He placed a wonderful man in my life, to be my husband, to have and to hold until death do us part.

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm  126:3 NIV

Happy 30 years, John Chauvin!

The post Thirty Years Strong: Anniversary Stories first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

John and I will celebrate thirty years of marriage this month! My, how time flies when you’re having fun! Why, it seemed like just yesterday when…

…I explained ever so lovingly to my sweet Daddy that I would like to have my two brothers walk me down the aisle when John and I married.  

Daddy had the honor at my first wedding, but he had become more feeble over the years. I knew I would be the one holding him up if he escorted me.  

If you know me, you know I can cry real tears at the drop of a hat. I inherited that tender-hearted trait from my Daddy. I could well imagine him sobbing, hanging on my arm, and shedding rivers of tears, all while I’m carrying him down the aisle and trying not to cry!

In addition, I wanted my two brothers as a “show of force.” I had been through one divorce, and I wanted to make sure John was absolutely positive this would be a “forever” marriage. I’m pretty sure he imagined the brothers with guns hidden under their jackets! And that’s ok.

…We looked back at our wedding pictures, and saw a stranger! All my family from Mississippi had driven over to Louisiana for the nuptials. I couldn’t wait to see the group shots with my whole family. Every single person! 

Turns out, my great-niece had brought one of her little friends along to keep her company. This friend was in EVERY SINGLE family picture we took. As a matter of fact, she showed up in my in-laws’ family picture, too! 

What a memory! After thirty years, we still laugh about our “adopted” relative in the wedding pictures.

…I burst into tears on our honeymoon. No, it wasn’t the nightmare you may be imagining! We went to Natchez, MS, a very historic and quaint town, with many antebellum homes and a slew of antique stores. John and I love browsing through antique shops. On the way out of one store, I glanced at a picture hanging above the door and promptly burst into tears!

It looked just like a framed picture my Mama had in our home growing up.  I had such fond memories of that picture, and eventually Mama gave it to me. I never hung it, because my ex-husband didn’t really care for it. 

After the divorce, I had a garage sale and sold that beautiful picture for $10.  Money was tight, and I knew I would need to downsize.  A month or so after the sale, I was visiting friends and saw the picture! It was the same, except with a different frame.  I asked about it, and they told me it had been in their family for many years. I told them the story of my picture and how I sold it for $10. They almost fainted. “It’s an antique! It’s worth much more than that!”

When I saw that picture in the Natchez antique store, all the pre-wedding and wedding emotions came pouring out! As we walked around the block, I flooded my new husband with tears and told him the story of “my” picture.  

He went back to the store and bargained with the owner to buy the picture.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough cash with us! Not to be outdone, John and I walked up and down the streets of that little town looking for an ATM—and found one! He purchased the picture and gave it to me as a wedding gift!

Mama and Daddy did not know I had to sell their precious picture.  After the honeymoon, I finally had to ‘fess up. I cried, my Daddy cried, Mama shed a few tears, and I think John may have cried a bit himself. 

Mama and Daddy had loved John from the get-go, because he always opened my car door for me (still does). After they found out he purchased “my” family picture to hang on the walls of our home, they loved him even more! 

Yep, time sure does fly when you’re having fun!

Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13 (HCSB) 

Happy anniversary, John Chauvin! 

The post Celebrating Thirty Years: Wedding Stories first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

There’s something to be said for bladders that surprise us: we must be prepared.

After running errands one day, I rushed into the house, determined to get to the toilet before I had an accident. Of course, I needed to sneeze, and I knew this would cause a catastrophic explosion of my bladder.

I made it just in time, but almost catapulted right off the toilet seat because of my hurry. I slid right across the top and caught myself before I fell to the floor! Can you imagine the calamity if I hadn’t been able to stop??

It’s funny (not ha-ha, but interesting), isn’t it? Things change with age. Road trips, or even quick trips to town, are planned around bathroom availability. Which stores have public bathrooms? Are they clean? Is there a Bucee’s nearby?

We prepare ourselves physically for growing older. We exercise to stay limber, we know where all restrooms are for our weak bladders, and we keep all maintenance doctor visits.

Why don’t we prepare ourselves spiritually for aging?

Preparation is Biblical

The Jewish people had a day of preparation (Luke 23:54), which was when they readied themselves for the Sabbath. No work or cooking could be done on the Sabbath day. They had to cook meals and do chores the day before. They had to prepare.

Jesus also believed in preparing. In Mark 9:30, we see that “He wanted to spend more time with His disciples and teach them.” Jesus didn’t want them to be unaware of what would happen to Him.

Jesus is also preparing a place for us (John 14:2). One day, we will join Him there. If Jesus prepares for the future, we should do the same.

Suggestions to Prepare Ourselves 

There are so many things we can do to prepare ourselves for what will come with aging. But as for preparing ourselves physically, it’s more about being than doing. Here are a few suggestions:

*Be rooted. To be firmly rooted, you must have a solid foundation. Our foundation is Jesus Christ. When our roots grow down deep into Jesus, our faith will grow. Our spiritual lives will flourish, even in old age (Ps. 92:14). 

With a firm foundation and deep roots, we won’t be blown about like tumbleweeds that have no roots (or like me slipping and sliding to make it to the toilet!). We will be strong, upright, and able to stand firm even in the midst of the hardships that aging brings.

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Col 2:7 NLT

*Be Dependent. I admit, the older I get, the more self-supporting and independent I become. A simple problem arises? I can handle it. Why bother God with this little thing? Before I know it, I am no longer depending on Him for all things!

Return to dependence on Him. Give each day to Him in prayer. Recognize that He is sovereign over all. Remember that He knows all things. Never believe that you are bothering the Lord. Our Father wants us to come to Him with every little bump and scrape on the knees of our lives.

In the same way we depend on certain stores to have the facilities we need, when we need them, Jesus has all we need for every day. 

Be surrendered to the will of the Lord. Depend on Him. Trust Him. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

*Be at rest. Jesus is the ultimate “rest stop” along our way. When we find our rest in Him alone, peace that surpasses all understanding will fill our hearts. Disasters, trials, and tribulations won’t disturb our peace or the calm within us. We cannot be shaken when we rest in Jesus (Psalm 62:6).

Like being near a restroom, being near Jesus brings comfort. We can scoot ourselves up next to Him, tuck ourselves under the shelter of His arms, and find rest. 

And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Maybe, to prepare spiritually for the autumn years of life, we need to BE: With Jesus, growing deeper roots into Him. Our roots will deepen when we depend on Him and rest in Him. Then our connection with Jesus will naturally grow deeper. And that’s the best preparation for spiritual aging!  

Abide in Me, and I in you. John 15:4

For His glory,

The post Growing Older, Growing Deeper: The Case for Spiritual Preparation first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

Bathrooms and Jesus. That’s a combination you would never put together, right? Let me tell you how I got here:

Recently, we attended my husband’s fiftieth high school reunion. If you haven’t made it this far in life yet, let me tell you, it’s an interesting time. It’s also a time when you don’t want to look bad in any way.

So when I got stuck in the bathroom stall, I panicked a bit. I could imagine having to scream so loud that someone would come to my rescue. How silly would I look?!? Turns out, all I had to do was slam my shoulder into the stall door. Yes, I had a bruise the next day, but I didn’t look stupid!

That wasn’t the first time I’ve gotten stuck in a stinky situation. At a car show with my husband, I had to go to the restroom. All they had were port-o-lets. EWWWW. But you do what you’ve got to do. I went in, held my breath, and just as I was getting ready to (thankfully) leave the “belly of the whale,” a rainstorm blew through. Opting to maintain my nicely coifed hair (because I didn’t want to look like a drowned puppy), I decided to wait it out in that stanky old outdoor outhouse. Nasty!

Unlike me, stinky situations didn’t bother Jesus. Remember when He went to Lazarus’ grave and told the people to remove the stone? Lazarus had been dead for four days. The full implication of this act really shines through in the King James Version when Martha tells Jesus, “Lord, by this time he stinketh (John 11:39).”

Lazarus’ body was decomposing after four days in the tomb. Let me say this right now: “Oh, no, not me! I will not stand next to that stinky grave!” But Jesus didn’t shrink or cower at the thought. He had a larger purpose in mind.

Jewish tradition indicates “a belief that the soul hovered over the body for three days, hoping to reenter it, but then gave up and departed⁠1.”

Jesus wanted the people to see the glory of God in the resurrection of a dead man. That’s why He waited until Lazarus had been dead four days. Past the point of no return. The people who saw this miracle would believe that God had sent Jesus (John 11:40-42). 

Isn’t that just like Jesus? Barrelling into a stinky situation to bring life to it? 

Jesus barrels into our stinky situations to bring us life.

If you’ve ever thought, My life’s a mess. It stinks. Jesus could never love me (or forgive me, or want me), you’re wrong. While we may not like our stinky lives, Jesus wades right into the middle and pulls us out of the muck and the grime.

Before Jesus came into our lives, we were all Lazarus-dead. We were dead in our sins, trapped in a tomb, and wrapped in grave clothes. We were stanky.

But Jesus. He has a heart for sinners like you and me. He cares.  Jesus wants us to throw off the grave clothes and walk in new life with Him! And as with Lazarus, Jesus wants us alive for His glory.

How has Jesus been working in your life recently? How can you bring Him honor and glory with the way you live?

For His Glory,

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1 Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2045.

The post Bathrooms and Jesus first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

Valentine’s Day is almost here!  I’m sharing some hints on loving your husband.  The list is endless, so I’ve narrowed it down to fourteen. Feel free to pop over to Part 1 for the first seven helpful hints.

8. FORGIVE

Let’s face it. Guys sometimes don’t think like we do. My sweet husband was concerned about the weight I had gained several years back, and rightly so! It was more than I had ever weighed in my life. However, when he talked to me about it, he used the “O” word: OBESITY. Now, before you get your feathers in a ruffle, he DID NOT say I was obese. He was just concerned that I was headed in that direction. But, bless his heart, you don’t use that word when you are talking to a woman about her weight.  I don’t think I spoke to him for two days. TWO DAYS. Two days out of our lives that are wasted, because I didn’t have the sense and maturity to forgive him. Ladies, please don’t ever waste precious time being angry with your husband. Forgive him.  “…love keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

9. YOUR HOME, HIS CASTLE 

Make your home a haven for your hubby.  Make it a peaceful place for him.  John used to travel quite a bit for work.  When he was gone, I didn’t cook, do laundry, or do dishes.  But when he walked through the door, I tried to make sure all the mess was picked up (not tonight, I’m writing tonight). Ok, I’m not as good at this as I used to be. I’ve relaxed a lot in my old age. But I do try to be his helpmate. I know he’ll be tired when he comes home, so if necessary, I’ll take care of the chores that he usually does. Yes, like take the trash out. Make your home a peaceful, loving place. He’ll look forward to arriving at his castle each evening!

10. BE KIND

Titus 2:4-5 says that older women are to encourage the younger women to love their husbands and children, and to be kind (among other things). It was odd that the younger women had to be taught how to be kind. After all, kindness begins at home, doesn’t it? Sometimes you would never know this by the way I act. When I’m “in a mood,” I can be kinder to a stranger in Walmart than I can to my husband. Let’s be kind to our husbands, “so that the word of God may not be dishonored.” (Titus 2:5). 

11. PRACTICE PATIENCE. Count to ten. Then, count to ten again. And again, and again. Deep breaths in, deep breaths out, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10! Next thing you know, that little temper tantrum has been avoided.

12. DON’T HUSBAND BASH 

Ever been in a conversation with some girlfriends that went something like this:

“You wouldn’t believe what a slob my husband is. I wish he would learn to pick up his stuff!” 

“You think yours is a slob, mine is such an idiot! He can’t even make the simplest repairs around the house!”

And on it goes, getting worse and worse.  This is dangerous and destructive behavior.  It is contagious and spreads like a virus! RUN FROM IT! Husband bashing is extremely damaging to your marriage. The more you dwell on your perceived wrongs in your husband, the more unhappy you will become.

Don’t participate in these conversations.  Try to steer them back to all the positive aspects of your spouses. If you can’t, I say again: RUN FROM IT! Guard your heart against this kind of talk. 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23

Be especially careful around the children or grandchildren. They need to see your respect for your man, not your scorn for him.

13. SAY THANK YOU. 

Always. For every little thing. Let him know you appreciate him.  

14. LAUGH. 

Laughing together is good medicine for any marriage. And it relieves stress (like hugs).

Remember, there are many, many ways you can love and encourage your sweet hubby each day. Be alert to hints he may unknowingly give. You won’t be sorry!

Because of His love,

The post 14 Ways to Love Your Husband, Part 2 first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.  This week and next, I’ll share with you some suggestions I’ve learned over the years for loving your husband.  I’m not perfect at this. Matter of fact, I’m writing it as a reminder to myself: These are things I need to put into practice, or continue practicing, in my marriage.

1. RESPECT

In her book “What Men Need Most,” Shaunti Feldhan states, “The most important aspect of demonstrating respect: It is a choice.  A choice we make out of reverence for God and love for our husbands. Just as men can choose to demonstrate love toward us even if they don’t feel it at the moment, so we can and should demonstrate respect toward them.”  Choose to respect your husband. Hold him in high esteem. Respect his leadership in your family (1 Cor. 11:3). Respect his provision for your family. Reduce complaints and increase compliments. Show him respect with your actions. Do you roll your eyes when he comments on something? Do you slam a door or throw things when you’re angry (yes, I have)? Let’s stop. Let’s show more respect to our husbands.

2. HUGS, hugs, hugs! Hug your husband frequently!  Hugs are powerful gestures that promote emotional and physical well-being. Science has proven that hugs release oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” which encourages bonding and reduces stress. Hugs can lower cortisol levels, improve mood, and even boost immune function, making them beneficial for overall health.

3. LISTEN 

Listening shows the highest respect.  When someone looks you in the eye and focuses on you while you are talking, you know they care.  Take time to listen to your husband. Listen with your ears, your eyes, and your body language.  Show him you care.

4. ENCOURAGE

Give your husband some encouragement. Be his biggest cheerleader. He works hard. Give him a standing ovation when he comes home from work. Tell him what a great job he does with repairs around the house. If the yard looks great after he mows and trims it, let him know. Acknowledge his job well done. When you admire what he’s done or how he’s handled a situation, be sure you tell him. These words will go a long way to lift your husband’s spirits: “Honey, you handled that so well!”

5. PRAY

Prayer and respect should always be at the top of your list of ways to love your husband. Lift him in prayer.  His spirit needs reviving as much as anyone’s. Ask him how you can pray for him. Then do it.  Right then (I’m sorely lacking in the ‘pray for him now’ category!). Pray for strength as he leads your family.  Pray for his spiritual growth. Pray that he would be a man after God’s own heart.

6. HOLD HANDS. Bring a little bit of first love back into your marriage. Hold his hand!

7. LEAVE HIM A LOVE NOTE. Hide it in his computer bag, his socks, or his underwear drawer, LOL! What a sweet and fun surprise! A little love in a note goes a long way.

Be sure to come back next week for seven more helpful hints!

Grace be with you,

The post 14 Ways to Love Your Husband, Part 1 first appeared on Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting.