How to Be a Better Husbandნიმუში

Day 3

The Gardener of the Heart

A husband's love has a clear purpose: to be dedicated to his wife's growth, just as Christ is for the Church. God's plan is for the husband to be an instrument that helps his wife become more and more like Jesus—not like the idealized woman he has in his head. Jesus isn't the type to do everything during the "chase" and then relax. His love is a constant dedication.

This means that every good marriage starts with the "murder" of countless false expectations and personal preferences. To love is to make an effort to understand what makes the other person feel loved, whether it's through gifts, words, or quality time. A husband’s mission is like that of a priest who works with God's Word to cultivate his wife's emotional beauty and spiritual depth, not to create wrinkles of worry and weakness.

Reflection Questions:

• Have I been trying to turn my wife into my own idealized version of her, or have I been seeking to be an instrument to help her become more like Christ?
• What expectations or personal preferences do I need to "let go of" to love my wife more sacrificially and with her well-being as the focus?

Prayer Suggestion:

"Lord, help me see my wife through Your eyes. May my goal not be to change her to please myself, but to be a channel of Your grace so she can flourish. Give me the wisdom to love her as she needs to be loved and the courage to sacrifice my own wants for her good."