Respect Challenge: Week 3

Quick Recap - I am on a 25 week journey to becoming a more respectful wife.  I want to be the best wife my husband could ever ask for!  I found my inspiration over at Loving Life at Home.  Please feel free to join me on this journey...it might even change your marriage...  ;)

Give Him Your Undivided Attention. 

Jennifer notes, instead of multi-tasking, "when your husband is speaking to you, make a point to lay other tasks aside, look into his eyes, and listen to what he is saying with the goal of understanding and remembering his words. 

 James 1:19 - This you know, my beloved brethren.  But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. 

Philippians 2:4 - Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others.
 FINAL REPORT:

Sometimes not multi-tasking can be a huge challenge for me.  And I mean HUGE.  I am constantly doing two things at once or at least thinking or planning in my head.  This means truly listening can be a little hard.

I have found over the past week that a few things really work for Hubby and I.

1. If we are both driving home from work, we talk on the phone.  Yes, I am driving, but I am still able to really listen to what he has to say.
2. We have started walking/running together.  While I am still able to breath, we can easily talk without distraction...and when I am hyperventilating all I can really do is listen!  ;) 
3. We attend church 45 minutes from where we live.  This means that any time we go to church or a church-related activity we have at least a good hour of talk time if not more.  Most of our serious conversations happen during this time - we just have to be sure to turn off the radio or I catch myself singing instead of listening.       

This challenge for me meant that I have to be incredibly intentional about tuning out any distractions - whether that means turning off the radio or setting down the baby blanket I am crocheting, I need to make an effort to do so.