How to Be an Excellent Husband

For Better and for Worse

No one said marriage is easy. In fact, it is a very complex and difficult relationship. Besides love, a husband needs to always remember three other very important elements of a successful marriage: Trust, Respect and Sharing.

Instructions

"You've Got to Give a Little, Take a Little...That's the Story of Love."

1. Proverbs 31:11 states, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain." Successful marriages are based on a strong foundation of trust. A husband needs to believe what his wife says and to rely on her honesty and openess. Building trust takes time, but it is essential for a relationship to continue. If a husband feels that he is being betrayed, the commitment between he and his wife will no longer be solid. Similarly, the wife needs to trust her husband. The husband must be truthful to his wife: confide to her both good and bad, and not keep anything to himself. The longer something is left unsaid, the more it will fester and harm the relationship. The husband must do what he says he will do and be someone on whom his family can depend.

2. A husband marries his wife because of her special traits and uniqueness. This means that he respects her differences and continually strives to understand her needs, what she says and how she acts. A relationship can not be strong and love continue if there is not mutual respect. Respect means completely accepting another person’s point of view, regardless if it is the same or different from one's own. It means being considerate of a wife's viewpoints or suggestions and valuing her as a person. Most important, respect means letting one's wife know that she is respected and valued for her special traits, for who she is and what she does.

3. In this day and age when everything is going so fast and it is almost impossible to keep up with the pace, both the husband and wife have to share all aspects of their relationship. There cannot be "her duties" and "his duities." It has to be "our duties," "our responsibilities." Gone are the days when a wife will be the only one to cook, clean and raise the children. Such responsibilities must be two-way and shared. A husband needs to help out in the house just as he helps others at work. Marriage is about working together as a team, not competing against one another or having unreasonable expectations. Team members are open and honest and communicate how they feel. They share their thoughts, because they are not afraid of being rejected or demeaned.Too often, especially when the children come, husbands and wives forget to share special times together. A husband needs to remember that he and his wife must continue to share as much of life as possible! More than ever they need to spend time together doing things that bring them enjoyment and pleasant memories. The husband needs to plan dates, such as an intimate dinner or even an hour walk in a nearby park. It is these shared moments that keep a relationship whole and alive.

Tips & Warnings

• Marriage comes down to the saying: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A husband needs to treat his wife with trust, respect and sharing, as he would want her to treat him.