A few weeks ago, one of my friends got together a group of men to celebrate his son’s 15-year-old birthday in a unique way. He requested that all of us come prepared to speak into this young man’s life. I was encouraged by the words of each of these godly men, but what Jason Short shared was particularly helpful. A father of five, Jason gave advice about marriage and family—things to think about and prepare for now.
This is great advice for all the 15-year-olds out there, a helpful template for all the parents out there, and a much needed reminder to all the husbands out there!
How to honor your future wife:
- Honor your future wife now by honoring all women and treating them with respect and dignity and by being a gentleman.
- Respect your mother, and speak highly of her to your friends and girlfriends.
- Don’t date just for fun.
- Honor girls now by refusing to join in disrespectful banter that will occur with your friends.
- Assume that your girlfriend may be someone else’s future wife.
- Remember that your girlfriend is someone’s daughter and sister.
- Look for a wife, not a girlfriend.
- Treat girls the way you want guys to treat your sisters.
How to be a happy husband (Start practicing most of these now!):
- Work hard, but put your presence with your wife and family ahead of your career goals.
- Pursue God together.
- Be her friend.
- Do the dishes.
- Learn how to have conflict.
- Love in the midst of conflict.
- Develop the skill to resolve conflict with compassion.
- Apologize (and don’t expect an apology).
- Laugh at your own jokes.
- Seek out wisdom from older husbands.
- Lay down your life for your family.
- Take road trips.
- Demand respect for your wife, not from your wife.
- Laugh at her jokes.
- Be empathetic.
- Throw parties and enjoy your friends together.
- Seek her input and insight.
- Watch your favorite comedies together over and over and over until the lines become part of everyday conversations.
- Listen to her.
- Learn how to cook.
- Never ever sleep on the couch. If necessary, sleep on the floor outside the bedroom door.
- Learn how to be wrong with patience and how to be right with humility.
- Eat together every day.
- Have an open door.
- Get away together whenever you can.
- Find friends whose company you both enjoy.
- Serve other people together.
- Bring home flowers.
- Eat everything she cooks.
- Say, “I love you” before you fall asleep.
- Leave room in your budget for generosity.
- Under-promise and over-deliver.
- Display affection and say, “I love you” in front of your kids.
- Be on her side.
