FamilyLife Today®

In this episode, Dave and Ann Wilson dive into the concept of how husbands can lead and cherish their wives, focusing on advice from Brad Merchant, a pastor from Indianapolis, who wrote a blog titled "Six Ways to Lead and Love Your Wife." The hosts discuss what makes wives feel cherished and loved, offering both humor and practical advice for husbands.

The episode opens with the hosts highlighting the importance of this topic, especially for wives who might be multi-tasking—whether at home or at work. One of the hosts introduces Brad Merchant’s blog, and they begin to walk through the six ways mentioned in it. The main focus is on encouraging husbands to ask meaningful questions that show care and interest in their wives' feelings and experiences. These questions could include things like, "How are you doing?" "How can I help you?" and "What’s the heaviest thing you're carrying emotionally?"

Incorporating a faith-based perspective, the hosts discuss how the Apostle Paul’s teachings in Ephesians 5 about self-sacrifice and love can be applied to relationships. They unpack the meaning of cherishing a wife, which goes beyond the traditional idea of buying gifts; it’s about truly treasuring and caring for her deeply. The hosts share some humorous and personal stories, including one about a husband's obsession with his guitars and how it connects to his lack of attention to his wife’s needs.

The episode also touches on the idea of a husband humbling himself and leading in a way that empowers his wife. They discuss practical ways to serve wives, like doing household chores, asking for their input in decisions, and giving them quality time. The hosts also provide examples from their own marriages of how asking questions and listening can strengthen a relationship. One host shares an insightful story about realizing how his love and attention to his daughter’s car was a reflection of how he should treat his wife with the same care.

The show concludes with a reminder for husbands to act on these principles, even if they don’t announce them, and to consider the impact of simple actions in showing love. They suggest that wives might want to share the podcast with their husbands as a subtle way to encourage growth in their relationships. The episode wraps up with mentions of other FamilyLife resources and encouragement to visit their website for more relationship advice.