The Secret about Men that Isn’t a Secret

My wife left on a plane yesterday to go to a conference for teachers (specifically on the making of tests). Fascinating, I know.

She’ll be gone until Sunday evening, and I will miss her desperately. The most important reason is that I love her more than anyone else on the planet. The next-in-line reason (that looms large over me) is that she does a ton of stuff.

Now, I believe that we are partners in life and home, and I do a share of the work.  I’ve always said that if she went away on a trip and decided to run away, I would track her down because there was no way I could do all this by myself (no way) which leads me to...

The secret that isn’t such a secret: men are babies.

I said I do a share of the work, but Lord knows, it’s not an equal share.  I do what I can, but I can’t keep up. There are things she’s good at that blow my skills out of the water, and she just gets. things. done. 

Women seem to be designed this way and some take it to extraordinary, dare I say, miraculous levels.  Men seem adept at fixing VERY specific problems (according to their abilities), getting paid more money for doing it, and whining about whatever it is they have to do and don’t want to. 

I personally believe the term “busy woman” is redundant.

Most men may be tough and do some hard things, but by and large, we wouldn't make it a week doing what a woman does regularly.  We'd probably just throw our hands up, walk away, and declare it to be "impossible."

Here’s the perfect example. My wife leaves for four days this week then I turn around and will leave for a church conference the week after for five days.  She helped me the night before she left to clean the house for our dinner and Bible study for Thursday night. She put away clothes. She laid out school clothes for my daughter. She made me a Crockpot soup so we’d have dinner when we got home Wednesday night.  This isn’t even including packing her bags and entering grades for the high school classes she teaches.  These are the things I witnessed. There are probably a hundred things I didn’t see.

By contrast, on the night before I leave next week… let’s just say, I'll probably be scrambling just to get a bag packed and accomplish a fraction of what she helped me do.  But when it all gets boiled down, she knows that I need the extra help and she doesn’t. Because men and babies (and more specifically, I’m a baby).  I do my best (for the most part) and she knows and respects that.  We clearly have different skills.

It is for this reason, that I challenge you today to find some way to thank the women in your life. Whether it’s your wife, mother, sister, or whoever else—we men need to show a little appreciation past Mother’s Day and Valentine’s.

Seriously, with the amount of work they do to keep the world (and our little corner of the world) running—couldn’t we spring for some surprise flowers? Or just tell her how much you love her. Give her a hug. Rube her feet. Say how much she means to you and that you notice all her hard work. Do something and expect nothing in return! (No, not even sex).

The time for appreciation is now. Don't believe me? You know what happens to babies who get left out in the cold? I’ll tell you, they don’t make it. The longer they're out there, the more damage is done... That's what I thought: commence the honoring and celebration of the women in your life!

Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it also makes me realize how hard my beautiful wife (Andrea) works for her family, in teaching, and the church. 

Andrea, I hope you have a wonderful time and I love you so much. You amaze me. You astound me. You rock my world (in every single way).  We see your hard work and dedication for everything you do, and its only surpassed by your beauty and intelligence. God knew I needed you in this life, and I have been blessed beyond all means of expression.

Don’t worry about us. You’re babies (all of them) will be here when you get home and we’ll be so glad to see you!  Oh and that deep gash on baby girl’s cheek? Hardly noticeable. In fact, I think that’s always been there. :) I love you!

Anybody shocked by the secret that isn’t a secret?  Are you going to tell a woman in your life how great you think they are? What do you think?