Weekend Kindness
Reaching Others Through Kindness

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When I first read this I knew that I must share it.  This list of questions from the ladies of Beauty of the Heart hits right to the core and exposes us for who we truly are…

• Do you act out of obedience to Christ and a passion for His glory–or your own?
• How do you spend your time?
• How much of your time per day is spent chatting with friends (online, on the phone or in person)?
• How much of your time per day is spent daily in conversation with family members?
• How much of your time is spent daily speaking to God?
• How often do you meditate on the Cross? (Once a day? Once a week? Once a year?)
• Do you set time aside every day for prayer and Bible study?
• Do you try to faithfully obey God in public and at home?
• Do you ask God for the grace to help you obey consistently?
• What people, books, movies, etc. influence you the most?
• Do you read books, watch movies, or listen to music that does not encourage your walk with Christ? Do you think this is wise?
• Are your friends fellow Christians who are seeking after godliness? Or do they encourage you in gossip and ungodly thoughts?
• If so, do you also join in that gossip and allow those thoughts to dominate your mind?
• What are your main spheres of influence?
• What steps could you take to become a stronger influence of a Christ-like attitude to friends, siblings, neighbors, relatives, etc.?
• Do you actively serve in your community?
• When making decisions, do you consider how they affect others?

Wow, talk about a lot of questions, but they’re terribly accurate.  I would add one of A.W. Tozer’s questions where he asks “Where does your mind go when you have nothing else pertinent to think about?”

David Plotz and Hanna Rosin decided to put their love and marriage of 11 years to the test by trying not to be more than 15 feet apart an entire day.  They were inspired by a couple of buddhists that were doing the same thing for 10 years, and they wondered what a day would be like. 

What they found was interesting.  Though neither of them wanted to do it the following day, they learned a lot about who the other person was and a lot about what spending time together truly meant.

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Having trouble trying to figure out what do you with your sweetheart next week?  Let Weekend Kindness help you with some ideas:

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I don’t know why newlyweds always go on honeymoons to places that have sights to see.  To put it bluntly (but not crudely!) they’ll be seeing and doing brand new things regardless of where they are!  They’re married for the first time, it’s a brand new experience.  They can do nothing wrong, and they can live off the love they have for each other.

It’s those of us that have been married a bit longer than need more help!  That’s why people write lists like 10 Tips to Keep The Flame Going in Your Married Life.

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Words of love are great, but showing your heart says it best.

There’s much to be said for a little consideration and unselfishness. Remember how passionate we all were about every little detail concerning each other in the early days of engagement and newlywed life? We all prefer being seen over being invisible, and being cherished over being taken for granted.

If rescuing the beauty is tantamount to winning the war, then let me remind you that it’s the battles which wage a successful campaign, one bleeding heart at a time!

A few simple ideas:

• Save the last piece of dessert for him
• Warm the car up for her on a cold winter morning, scrape the frost off the windows, etc
• Bring him or her a cold/hot drink when you know it would be appreciated, without asking first
• Remember birthdays and anniversaries
• Bring home his favorite magazine
• Help carry in the groceries
• Help clear off the supper table
• Rinse out the tub after your showers and baths, and the sink after shaving
• Say please and thank-you
• Give an unsolicited shoulder rub
• Grab your wife and waltz her around the house
• Hang out in the kitchen with her
• Hang out in the garage or shop with him

When my husband helps me in the kitchen, I feel so cherished! It says to me: “I’d rather be with you than snoozing in the recliner or surfing the net, etc.” Similarly, when I’m not afraid to dig in and get dirty helping my man with his truck projects, or working cattle, he’s practically giddy. You’d think I was his girlfriend all over again!

When we take a special and unselfish interest in our spouses’ lives it speaks volumes. It’s too easy after several years of marriage and two or three kids to relax and grow almost numb to your partner’s passions and desires. Examine your heart and motives. Could you care less about their interests? If so, chances are good that you’re too immersed in your own.

And don’t forget the main things most men and women want are pretty simple. A little extra love can go a long way. What speaks love to you?

Hubby’s and my love languages are very different.  And I’m no good at speaking his love language: Acts of Service.  A little brainstorming is in order:  How do I show love to my husband when I’m terrible at serving him?

My thoughts are below.  What ideas can you give me?

Food

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?  Maybe I should focus on having a hot meal prepared for him when he gets home from work.  This will take some creativity since I generally pick him up from work.  It’ll have to be something I can cook quickly or that reheats well.

Cleanliness

Staying current on housework, providing a calm, organized environment for him will not only show him love, but will help me feel more collected.  Any tips on getting and staying organized with space?  I’m no good at the “a place for everything and everything in its place” principle.

Sacrificial Giving

I can’t stand tattoos.  I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them, they’re just not very attractive.  But hubby wants a tattoo so badly.  For Christmas, I got him a gift card to a tattoo parlor.  This is one example, but I can’t think of any other bits of sacrificial giving, can anyone help me?

This is about as much as I can think of when it comes to serving my husband, but I know there has to be more to it.  Any other ideas when it comes to service?  Thanks, everyone!

One of the most difficult things to articulate is the feeling you get when you are apart from someone you feel that you cannot live without.  The ache, the emotion deep down that, even though it has been only a little while, seems like it will consume your every thought.

Life is full of change, and yet the bonds that we form can be long lasting, and so it becomes necessary to express those feelings to retain those bonds.

And so, without further ado, 31 ways to say “I Miss You”:

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