I just finished reading Paula Rinehart's "What's He Really Thinking? How to be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life" - I ended up underlining half the book!Where do I start? First let me say, that when I open a new book I tend to be a skeptic. I need the author to prove to me that they can relate to my situation. Within the first chapter, I was intrigued and in the second chapter, I was caught - hook, line and sinker! She is very insightful!
Here's a few of the things I learned from "What's He Really Thinking?":
1. "Sometimes we ache to hear reassuring words from a man. And he keeps handing us the product, the evidence of what he does." pg.30 It is only natural that we desire to hear our husband praise, appreciate and thank us - but we must remember that often the way our husband shows his love for us is through the things he does for us such as going to work everyday, carrying a heavy box, raking the leaves, changing the oil in the car, and throwing a ball with our children. We must translate the things he does as his expression of love for us.
2. "Man lives with a challenging combination of great expectations amid great isolation. Hunter, gatherer, father, warrior, husband, brother - but don't let anyone see you sweat." pg.36 As women, we forget the heavy burden that men carry. God made our men with broad shoulders and they carry the weight of the family on them every day.
3."If you comment on positive changes, it solidifies a new direction. He stands up two inches taller. It matters more to him because it matters to you. We all tend to rise to the level of someone else's positive expectation." Pg. 58 This reminds me that critical words do nothing to change our husband and positive words really do have power to propel our men forward!
4. "The form of respect a man usually mentions first... is his longing for a woman who knows him and loves him to be his foremost cheerleader...sex is a wordless cheer you might say." pg. 93-95 I won't elaborate - I think that's pretty clear haha!
5. "Any lasting relationship with a man, be it a son or brother or husband or good friend, can only be forged out of two decent forgivers." pg. 113 AMEN - I could not agree more. In our world of rampant divorce - we can see the value of being a decent forgiver. It takes TWO decent forgivers to make a marriage last! I want to excel at forgiving! That way I can enjoy my husband - and as Paula says later in the book, "there is no greater intimacy than the pleasure of being enjoyed by someone." When our husband's sense we don't enjoy them - we leave an open door for other women to try to get in.
Go today and enjoy your husband!
Walk with the King!
http://www.womenlivingwell.org/
Thanks for this post today :) i need to be reminded of the 'burden' our men carry. i know they do the things they do because they love us. It's hard to recogonize that sometimes. thank you for reminding me of the broad shoulders God has given them and everything on those shoulders!
ReplyDelete-liz
Ooh- Might have to add this to the list of books to read!
ReplyDeleteHi Courtney, This sounds like a "must-read". I just told a friend (Trudy)about you and your blog. I also sent her this post and I know you will be getting to know her very soon. She is another precious child of God like you and a constant source of inspiration, again like you:-)
ReplyDeleteHi Courtney! Suzanne 'introduced' you to me this morning and I just love the blog. I also love the idea of the morning check-in! I would love to take part in that with you!
ReplyDeleteGod bless your day!
Sounds like I better add this to my reading list! I love it when someone reads it first and lets me know if its good or not;-) I agree about the author proving themselves to you too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. Looks like a great read, and I needed to hear your summary of what you learned. :) Thank you, Courtney.
ReplyDelete