Thursday, April 16, 2015

Do You Love Your Husband More Than Your Children?


Ayelet Waldman caused quite a stir among women ten years when she said, "I love my husband more than my children!" She went on to say they enjoyed a passionate sex life  "If you focus all of your emotional passion on your children and you neglect the relationship that brought that family into existence...eventually, things can go really, really wrong...So many women today have become so focused on their children, they've developed these romantic entanglements with their children's lives and the husbands are secondary. They're left out." She went on to say that they have raised happy, contented, successful children.

It is so much easier to love our children than our husbands but let me tell you, those children grow up and leave and then you are left alone with your husband. I have seen couples who didn't raise their children with much discipline but the wives LOVED their husbands. Those children have grown up to be great adults!

I always have told women the greatest gift you can give your children is to love their daddy deeply. It discourages me when I see all pictures mothers are posting about their children on Facebook and them with their children but none with their husbands. Then I LOVE seeing mothers posting romantic pictures of themselves with their husbands! Far too many women prefer their children over their husbands, yet they were the ones who chose their husbands to make their babies!

Many mothers make their children the center of their universe. All of their energy and time goes into taking care of them. When children see their mothers making their fathers a priority, the children love it. Their greatest sense of security lies in the healthy relationship between mother and father. I have read blogs where the wives are always serve their husbands, first at dinner to show the children how much they honor and respect their husband, then throughout the day with joy, laughter and smiles. Children feel a sense of deep dread when they sense their parent's relationship deteriorating.

We must always remember that we were first created to be our husband's help meet. This is our primary role when we marry. I failed in this area. I thought Ken was a big boy and could take care of himself, and he did, which removed far too many connections between us. I listened to all the lies of society and around me instead of what God's Word plainly spells out. For some reason, all those verses about headship, submission, obedience, pleasing, etc. were hidden to me. Blindness comes when doing things the world's ways. Don't make the same mistake I made, and if you have, begin with me to make your husband your first priority. 

I have many a woman come to me in tears of despair crying out for an answer to restoring their relationship with their husband that is on the rocks, or going no where. The answers are always the same; get in God's Word daily and do what it calls you to do, and to be. Then go to your husband and ask him if he will forgive you for the years of  famine you have helped to create in your relationship. Ask him to gently coach you in all areas of what God calls you to be; a submissive, godly and chaste wife who puts her husband first and your household second, knowing that this is what pleases the Lord, and will restore your heart and marriage.

And the LORD God said, 
It is not good that the man should be alone; 
I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18

Comments (30)

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How does it help when all you want is a relationship with your husband and all he has is excuses why he can't sit with you one evening a month, but he's got time for everything and everyone else...
4 replies · active 518 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker's avatar

HappyHomemaker · 519 weeks ago

This post is so spot on. However, when most people hear this, they seem to think that you mean you love your husband and not your children. I used to think this way, but thank God my eyes were opened up. I don't know why people tend to think this way, but they do. This society is suffering so much from children being the center of parents universe, they are being raised to believe that everything in life is about them and it makes for the most selfish people. I think maybe this is another lie that we believe, if we love our husband more than our children, then we aren't good mothers. I have fallen into this trap, as well as the one that says if you serve, honor, obey, and just enjoy your husband then he must be an idol to you. In my personal opinion, one of the reasons so many women fall into these traps is emotions. The same with disciplining our children, it makes us "feel" bad, so it must be wrong.
2 replies · active 519 weeks ago
My husband comes before my children. Obviously, sometimes the kids have needs that must be met before my husband and I can have time together. But I put my husband's wants above the kids' wants. That's the way it's supposed to be.

However, people might not know that from looking at my facebook profile. It's mostly pictures of the kids. But that's because I'm home all day with the kids and they do cute things which makes me think of getting out the camera. When my husband is home, I'm too busy spending time with him - talking, keeping him company in the garage, cuddling, watching a movie, etc. And I just don't think to get the camera. Or it might not be a good time to get the camera out. If I'm wearing something skimpy or even if it's just pajamas in the evening when we spend time together, I'm not going to take a picture. So, anyway, you can't tell whether women prioritize their husband by looking at their facebook pictures.
2 replies · active 519 weeks ago
It is funny how "loving your husband" and serving him first, making him your first priority is frowned upon in defense of neglect toward the children. However, a woman can "love herself" and serve herself first and make herself a top priority by abandoning her horrible husband and blowing up a family through divorce and noone comes to the defense of the children. Bizarre. I believe most women feel intense shame when among women who love their husbands more and so they rationalize this conviction and enture Bible verses away by saying things like "but the kids need me, my husband can take care of himself, he's a big boy, etc."
1 reply · active 519 weeks ago
Lori, you say

"they ALL say they are a better mother and this should NOT be! The only way you make your husband into an idol is if you expect him to meet all your needs, give you purpose and fulfill you, instead of finding these things in the Lord"

I respect you so much, your wisdom shines through in what you must see as simply answering or agreeing with someone. I can't tell you enough how much you encourage me. It is in your one on one sound advice and answering of comments that most can be learned. You are a very special lady to me and many others, I'm certain.
1 reply · active 519 weeks ago
This is such a beautifully written post.
younggodlywoman mentioned something I was very guilty of, and experienced. I would sit in the church/homeschool group and listen as the women talked about their husbands...all of them so in love and loving their men. And I would feel guilt. Guilt that I did not look forward to seeing my man like they did theirs. Guilt that I had no desire to swoon over mine, talk good about him, spend time with him. And I rationalized. Boy did I rationalize. Mine didn't attend church, he didn't read the Bible, he didn't spiritually lead our family. Totally overlooking that he was a wonderful dad, a caring husband no matter how horrible I was. He worked hard to support us. He spent all his spare time at home with us. He had no outside interested that took priority. He heard and responded to any concern I had in what our son was seeing on tv. He doesn't drink, smoke, do drugs, oggle other women. Then through this blog, snippets from a few others, lots of prayer and somehow a miracle.....I began seeing all the good instead of the things I thought were so horrible! I began changing to be the Biblical woman God created me to be and he has become even more of the good qualities he had before. Plus...two weeks ago, when he was off on a Sunday due to classes, he said to me he would go to church with us! I sat in my misery for years. What a waste! I am finding joy in being for my husband what he needs and what God requires of me. And when we kiss, our little boy comes running over and hugs us both. It makes him so happy to see us loving eachother!
Thank you Lori and Ken for this blog that has helped in a huge way to change my families life!!
5 replies · active 519 weeks ago
The Ezzos in the parenting series Growing Kids Gods Way encourage couples to have "Couch Time" everyday when the husband and wife are home and in front of the kids! It's important to do it even when the kids are toddlers and it's funny how they want to climb on the couch too but are gently reminded that this is Daddy and Mommy time. Even if only for a few minutes a day it really can bring security into their little hearts knowing mom and Dad like talking to each other and being with each other- no books, no internet or Tv during this time, no talk about bills just talking to one another in front of the kids! It's powerful!
2 replies · active 519 weeks ago
"all those verses about headship, submission, obedience, pleasing, etc." Are there verses about pleasing your husband? Could you tell me where to find them?
1 reply · active 519 weeks ago
I love this great reminder!!!! I've been following your blog for awhile and love how you teach the true!!! I would just like to comment on the part about Facebook. I would Love to post pictures of my husband, my husband and I, things my husband is doing with our 3 lil boys... But he has asked me not to post things about him on Facebook so I'm trying to respect him in that way. He wants to be a husband and dad that doesn't need everything he does, out there for everyone to see (even tho I think it would be fun to brag about him:) ) We are trying to make an effort to keep a good, close relationship so we can have fun together after our boys grow up. Which will be awhile since they are only 4, 2 and 6 mo!! :) God bless!!!

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