Another way to describe the positive side of this "30-Day Encouragement Challenge" is by using the word "edify," which means, "to build up." Negative comments only discourage and tear down. Positive comments encourage and build.
Do you edify your husband before others, adding to his value in their eyes? This is especially important to other family members.
Do you praise your husband to his relatives, and yours? Does your husband's mother know how much you love him? How about your dad? Perhaps you can drop a word of praise into a conversation or letter. Be creative in letting your relatives know that you respect your husband, love him, and support him - in spite of whatever flaws and weaknesses he may have.
This was a great day to read today, after getting back from my trip to New York. It was hard for me and for Jonah to be away from his daddy for 6 days, but I enjoyed edifying my husband to my mother. I need to edify him more to his mother and to my dad though.
Greg was SO wonderful that he drove 1500 miles to pick us up. My mom and I had to drive through the snow storm a couple weeks ago, to get to her house in Bloomingburg, NY. It was hard on Jonah, but especially hard on us who had to stay alert and awake while driving. Jonah soon adapted to the new house, but didn't sleep through the night any night. He always woke up for whatever reason and wanted to nurse. Maybe because his play pen was in guest room where I was sleeping, and when he woke in the middle of the night, he smelled that his mommy was near and wanted me to comfort him.
We were planning to meet Greg halfway new Youngstown, OH last Sunday, but I just didn't see that plan working out. Since he's one man driving alone, he'll get there much faster than two women and a 9 month old who need to stop frequently for restroom and food breaks. So, after exhausting all the possibilities we could think of, Greg decided that he'd drive to NY on Saturday, possibly stay one night in my mom's house, and drive back to Indiana on Sunday, so he could return to work on Monday. We actually ended up driving 3 more hours back toward Indiana on Saturday night, and started out our trip with Jonah sleeping. That worked out well. However, as soon as we were in the hotel, Jonah was back to clinging to mommy and not sleeping. I must have nursed him three times that night (from 1 am until 7:30 am) and Greg ended up sleeping in the other bed (the one we made up for Jonah).
Thankfully, we got home on Sunday evening about 5:30 pm. Greg made great time on the road and our only delay was on I-70 when the highway was blocked in both directions because a plane, something like a Cessna, was trying to take off from the interstate. We knew it would be on the news, and it was. I didn't hear the whole story, but it took off from Eagle Creek and "ran out of options" so it landed on the highway. I wonder what the drivers of the vehicles thought when they were driving along and suddenly they saw an airplane land on the road in front of them. We got to see two helicopters circling about 3 miles ahead of us and finally the plane took off. Didn't get any photos, but we'll remember this one.
So we made great time and when we got home, I was SO thankful for my loving husband who drove all the way to New York for 1500 miles to bring Jonah and me home safely. We're still recovering from the travel and lack of sleep, and Jonah's back to sleeping through the night.
Edifying others and building each other up-- that's what I need to do more often. Not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth. That was the verse I kept thinking about when I was away from home and when it was easy to complain when I was sleep deprived. That verse, and Do everything without complaining or disputing. I know Jonah watches everything I do, and my mother too, she noticed how we train Jonah and pray with him and how we teach him. He needed constistent training and he needed his daddy too. I think he wondered why we only talked to Daddy on the phone, because he'd wake up every morning saying, "dadadada." So we'd call Daddy and say good morning. It's interesting, because he says "mamahh" to Greg all the time and to me when he's hungry, but it seems like what I hear all day long is "dadadada" or "bababababa" among other babblings. He's our precious boy and we're delighted to have him as our son.
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