So what do men REALLY want?

Hmm...

More time to piddle work in the shop?

Childless trips to Home Depot on the weekends?

The grass mowed, the car/truck washed, the bed painted? (inside joke bw hubby and I).

A well-dressed, perfectly groomed wife?

A spotless house?

Or maybe it's simply...

TRUST.

Proverbs 31:11-12 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Can our husbands trust us with their heart? I don't think this verse is limited to fidelity issues. What other areas do our husbands wish to trust us with?

Finances--"...so that he shall have no need of spoil." Can a husband trust a wife who makes unwise financial decisions or sneaks around and spends his money behind his back? I have to admit, there's been times when I've found a REALLY good deal on something. When the truth of the matter was, there's no money left in the budget for that kind of purchase. But it's SUCH a GOOD deal!! Mm-hmm...you've been there too, haven't you?

Decisions-- I think I have mentioned before, that my husband likes to take us on Friday evening outings. More often than not, I have no clue where we are going to eat, or shop, or whatever he has planned. This is REALLY hard for me because I like to plan ahead. But my husband, he wants me to sit back, relax, and just wait and see what he is going to do for us. He wants me to trust in his ability to give us an enjoyable evening. Put him in charge!

Conversation-- Ok, it looks like I am about to air some dirty laundry here. A couple of weeks ago, we had company over for dinner and games. Now, I am definitely the more outgoing person in our marriage. If there is a lull in the conversation, I feel it is my responsibility to fill it. Aparantly, I filled in a little too much that evening. My husband asked me afterward, "Do you have to tell everything?" I think he was a little uncomfortable with my chattiness that night. I apologized, and Lord, please help me not to do that to him again. I want him to trust in my conversation, not be ashamed of it.

It always amazes me at how the picture of Christ and the church models how things should be in our marriage. Christ wants us to trust him completely with every area of our lives. God made Adam in His likeness, and so men have the same in-bred needs to be the leader. Although it's hard, it brings forth much fruit when the men hold the reigns and can trust us wives not to try and take them away.

I'm not claiming to be an expert, people, I'm just amazed that I never stop learning about marriage and what makes it successful. And boy, do have a LOT more to learn!