Regardless of all we may be trying to do to show our husband that he is a priority, we also need to make sure that he FEELS that way.  I know that about 3 months after EVERY birth of a child, Mike and I find ourselves sitting on opposite couches staring at each other and feeling "at odds".  I'm feeling stretched in every direction with the demands of another little one, and while Mike is so good at helping and being patient knowing that I'm needed, he winds up feeling further down on my list of priorities than he would like.  He doesn't get mad... he really does understand... but it's an unspoken "weirdness" (is that a word?) that we experience because under "normal" circumstances, he is second only to God.

There are definitely times in our lives when things are busier, tougher (or in the case of post-partum... moodier) but we as wives must strive to always make or husbands a priority!  Because of the amount of kids Mike and I have, it's not always easy (or affordable) to find someone to watch them, and so we've had to be creative.  We go to the hot tub for time alone, have a movie night and shut the door after the little ones are in bed (the older ones know that this is our time and it's healthy for them to know that we make each other a priority like that) or have tea in the morning and not let the kids interrupt.  We've even had special dinners that the kids have put on for us and "served" us.

I have a friend who doesn't answer the phone during the day while she homeschools or when she has company, to show her kids that they are more important... and to show her guests that they are more important BUT when her husband calls (as seen on caller ID) she ALWAYS answers that phone call.  She puts him as a priority and he knows she will answer the phone because of that very reason.

Don't let anger, frustration, bitterness, or indifference stand in the way of making your husband a priority in your life.  Whether you are a priority in his life or not, start praying to make your husband second only to God... it's the most selfless thing you can do for your marriage.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to have my priorities in proper order.  While I know that I am to have YOU first, my husband second, and my family third... I know there are times when I mix those things up, or add other things into my top three.  Please help me to remain focused on You first and not put my husband before You.  I know there are times I rely on him more than You.  Help me to never put our children ahead of my husband and always show them the kind of marriage that I pray for them to have through our example.  I pray for my husband's priorities as well Lord, and that they would be in the order that you desire.  I pray for him to place me and our children before all of his other obligations and that he wouldn't let other things creep in to steel his time from us.  I know there are many people watching him in this area, and I pray for You to cover him and protect his choices so he will make the right decisions and set a good example for other men.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

It's not too late to join us for the month of June as we pray for our husbands!  You can check out more about it by clicking the following link: S.H.M.I.L.Y. for 30 days of prayer...  Please share a link to your blog post if you've made one on this chapter!