Pick Up Your Underwear!
Devotional
Forty Letters to a New Dad
Devotions for New Fathers
Object:
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
-- Ephesians 5:25
Dear Kyle,
Sometimes, it's the little things that matter most. This, I have learned largely by default in 34 years of marriage. But I learned it most dramatically when you were born.
You see, a mother's role is a rather thankless job. Forgive the sexist perspective here, but while the father, if he is out in the working sector, gets affirmation, positive job feedback, salary raises, and thank-you notes from satisfied customers, there is no such thing for a stay-at-home mom. Moms almost never get thank-you notes from their two-month-old infants after staying up all night when they have diarrhea. No affirmation comes when a mother sits in a clinic waiting room with seven other crying babies. And what about a salary increase for a job well done? Forget about it!
Do you know how meaningful it would be if you offered to cook dinner some night? Do you know how grateful Melissa would be if you came home and said, "Why don't you take a hot bath, while I rock the baby for a while?" How validated would your wife feel if you brought home a bouquet of daisies, or wrote a note, with a big red heart, that said, "Thank you for everything you do for our son!"? Even calling home in the middle of the day and saying, "Just thought you would like a brief adult conversation ... how's your day?" can be a day-brightener.
I wish I had known then what I know now about the tremendous stamina it takes to be a mother. That's why I have included this letter. Perhaps I am not telling you anything you don't already know; you are so much more enlightened than I was as a young father. But even you can get caught up in the rigors of your job, and perhaps neglect the little things you could do to express your appreciation and love for what Melissa is doing as a parent.
Maybe you could even ask Melissa what the three most meaningful things are that you could do tomorrow to make her day go better. She might have a list that runs a lot longer than three items, or she may not be able to think of a thing, but she will be so grateful that you sincerely thought to ask. And if all else fails, there's always chocolate!
Love,
Dad
Loving God, increase in me a sensitivity to how my wife is doing each day. Make me aware of where I can contribute to the care of our child so that Melissa feels like she has a partner in parenting. As I lift Melissa up to you, I pray that you would strengthen her for the sometimes tedious role that she carries. I love her for all that she does! Amen.
-- Ephesians 5:25
Dear Kyle,
Sometimes, it's the little things that matter most. This, I have learned largely by default in 34 years of marriage. But I learned it most dramatically when you were born.
You see, a mother's role is a rather thankless job. Forgive the sexist perspective here, but while the father, if he is out in the working sector, gets affirmation, positive job feedback, salary raises, and thank-you notes from satisfied customers, there is no such thing for a stay-at-home mom. Moms almost never get thank-you notes from their two-month-old infants after staying up all night when they have diarrhea. No affirmation comes when a mother sits in a clinic waiting room with seven other crying babies. And what about a salary increase for a job well done? Forget about it!
Do you know how meaningful it would be if you offered to cook dinner some night? Do you know how grateful Melissa would be if you came home and said, "Why don't you take a hot bath, while I rock the baby for a while?" How validated would your wife feel if you brought home a bouquet of daisies, or wrote a note, with a big red heart, that said, "Thank you for everything you do for our son!"? Even calling home in the middle of the day and saying, "Just thought you would like a brief adult conversation ... how's your day?" can be a day-brightener.
I wish I had known then what I know now about the tremendous stamina it takes to be a mother. That's why I have included this letter. Perhaps I am not telling you anything you don't already know; you are so much more enlightened than I was as a young father. But even you can get caught up in the rigors of your job, and perhaps neglect the little things you could do to express your appreciation and love for what Melissa is doing as a parent.
Maybe you could even ask Melissa what the three most meaningful things are that you could do tomorrow to make her day go better. She might have a list that runs a lot longer than three items, or she may not be able to think of a thing, but she will be so grateful that you sincerely thought to ask. And if all else fails, there's always chocolate!
Love,
Dad
Loving God, increase in me a sensitivity to how my wife is doing each day. Make me aware of where I can contribute to the care of our child so that Melissa feels like she has a partner in parenting. As I lift Melissa up to you, I pray that you would strengthen her for the sometimes tedious role that she carries. I love her for all that she does! Amen.
