It has been said, albeit a little crudely, that men need three things, sleep, food and, well, you know, intimacy. 
I would like to submit to you a very important need I think might get overlooked.
Encouragement!
We have a tremendous amount of influence over our husbands and we would be wise to use that influence in a godly and helpful manner. One way we can do that is come along side them and encourage and support them.
I don’t know about you, but I can see a distinct difference in my husband’s countenance depending on whether or not I encourage him or show my dissatisfaction with how he is handling something.
Our husbands need us to encourage and lift them up. The last thing they need is a wife to come along side them and point out all their flaws! Chances are good they are well aware of their mistakes and even heavy-hearted about them. I have seen my lack of encouragement crush my husband and shake his confidence in himself. Also, I have seen my words of encouragement strengthen his resolve, give him untold confidence, and help him to stand up just a little taller.
Let’s submit our cares and concerns for our husband’s weaknesses to God and trust Him with them.
We can be positively persuaded that God will keep that which we commit to Him! (2 Tim. 1:12)
And then, come along side them and encourage, edify, and build them up! Let the Holy Spirit do His work and let’s do ours, okay?
ENCOURAGE . . . . EDIFY . . . .SUPPORT . . . . BUILD UP!!
Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. . . encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper]. (1 Thess. 5:11,14)
Lord Jesus, give us divine wisdom on how to build up and encourage our husbands. By Your Holy Spirit, convict us of those times when we are trying to do Your work. Enable us to love and support instead of tear down. Make us like the wise woman who builds her home instead of tears it down.
I want to be my husband’s biggest cheerleader…whether he’s right or wrong, we’re on the same team striving for the same goal!
Michelle, thanks for the reminder of how important it is for us to encourage and support our husbands. As Karen mentioned above, we’re on the same team, working toward the same goals in life, and reaching them is always easier when we ban together!
Oh this is so true. I clearly see the change when I have encouraged my husband versus said something not so uplifting. Along with encouragement goes respect. I believe they fit hand in hand. Can we have one without the other and be honest in our encouragement, in our respect?
The verse that comes to mind is Ephesians 5:22b – “…and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”
Thank you for encouraging us and reminding us, ~ linda
YES! I, too, have seen the difference. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much for sharing and reminding me of something so important and so easy to overlook especially when I am too busy thinking of myself! Wonderful post.
Gosh, I wonder if they WANT to know their flaws, so they can change and do better.
I mentioned this to my husband, and he said he wanted to hear such things from me–his wife–the one who knows him best.
So I told him some ways he could improve himself in social situations. He thanked me.