Monday, February 14, 2011

I Know He Loves Me When...

First published two years ago, this is the ultimate Valentine's Day post.  I'm bringing it back today, and I've even gone back and added some more.  Feel free to add your own in the comments.
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day with your sweetie!
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When you have been married for 21 years like I have, the mundane tasks of life interfere with romance. In our fast-paced lives of children, housework, bills, home repairs, and dinner, you begin to wonder what happened to the early years when you were first married and how much your husband showed you that he loved you. And we, as wives, are just as guilty. We are always tired from the daily activities, that we also fail to show/tell our husbands that we still love them. You feel like he doesn't show you his love like he once did, so why should you return the feeling? Maybe you just need to think about it a little more. Maybe he does show you that he still loves you, just not in the way you think. I bet if you really think about it, you will realize it, too. I started noticing a few things from my husband lately that I thought I would jot down. Things that make me feel loved by him. As I became aware of these actions, it started making me feel special to him again. It has brought about a new appreciation/love for him. Here is what I came up with...

I KNOW HE LOVES ME

I know he loves me when...he opens doors for me and lets me enter ahead of him.
I know he loves me when...I grab his hand and he gently squeezes it.
I know he loves me when...he scolds the kids for "talking back" to me.
I know he loves me when...he calls me from work to tell me he's having a bad day.
I know he loves me when...he calls me from work to tell me he's having a good day or something good has happened to him.
I know he loves me when...I have been gone running errands a little too long, and he calls to
check on me.
I know he loves me when...he always wants me to go along with him when he runs the errands.
I know he loves me when...he passes by me and always reaches out to touch me.
I know he loves me when...I am riding on the motorcycle with him and he reaches back and squeezes my leg.
I know he loves me when...he brings in the heavy bags from the grocery store & I bring in the bread.
I know he loves me when...I turn over when we are asleep, and he rolls over, too, just to put his arm around me...even though he's still asleep.
I know he loves me when...he wants me to stop doing housework and lie on the couch with him to just watch television.
I know he loves me when...he takes me to the movies to see "New Moon" even though I know that he doesn't really care to see it!
I know he loves me when...he always wants me to go to bed when he does because, according to him, he sleeps better when I am there beside him. <3  


Notice how none of this involves gifts or money. They are simple actions performed with love. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor. There are many other ways to show your love for one another.

So, what realizations have you come to that let you know that your husband still loves you? Please comment below. I can't wait to hear your responses!

32 comments:

Especially Heather said...

He has stood by me through our daughters heart transplant, diagnosis of mitochondrial disease, autism, and my cancer....

and he still comes home to me each and every night for the past 14 years (to the day!)

Sandra said...

Congratulations on your 14th year together! You've got a keeper there! Sounds like a good one!

TidyMom said...

He warms up the car for me when it's cold outside with out me asking! He'll stop at the grocery store for me when I don't feel like going (no matter what is on the list). He calls to just say I Love you!..........I could go on....and it's been over 22 years!!

Gotta love ya a GOOD man!!

~Tidymom

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

What a great post and reminder to NOTICE what our hubbies do! After nearly 22 years, my hubby brings me coffee and breakfast in bed, he just made me tea, he takes our son to school every morning, he remembers to take out the trash...so many things he does, some more romantic and some just everyday stuff. But all of it because he loves me and our family. Sigh, thanks for nudging me to notice and be more appreciative of how blessed I am!

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Sandra this is so sweet. I see that this same thing has happened between my mom and dad. Sometimes...I makes me think that they don't love each other anymore :(. Maybe I should pay attention and make a list of my own so that I can see that they still show love to each other..but just in a different way =]

Sandra said...

I'm glad I have inspired you all to notice the little things. And to my anonymous poster...Please DO make a list of things that you DO see between your parents. It could be an eye-opening experience!

Mrs. Waldrop said...

I know my husband loves me, when he walks by and gently touches my back (like he did just now), then on his way out of the room, he says, "I love you."

Anonymous said...

I know he loves me by the way he smiles at me, the way he laughs with me, the cute sideways looks. The pet names he calls me.

I know he loves me by the way he makes a point to do certain things that keep me happy - kiss me first thing when he comes in from work, takes out the trash, even does the kitchen occasionally. Oh, and the way he turns his socks right side out now because he knows I cringe when turning them right before laundry (military boots all day).

I know he loves me when he absent mindedly reaches out to hold me or touch me.

I know he loves US by the way he interacts with our children. We've been married a year now and both brought a five year old into the mix. By furthering our relationships with our children, we're furthering our relationship with US and forming a strong, stable, connected family.

What a great entry, Sandra. I'm going to send my response here to him at work. He's going to be having a long day today.

Sandra said...

I'm so glad that I have made you all realize the little things he does that say, "I love you." I think it has opened all our eyes a little bit. Now, when he does those things, we can smile and think, "THAT'S what I'm talking about!"

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

This is such a wonderful post. Let's see...I know he loves me just by the way he looks at me when I do something ordinary that he thinks is cute

Jesica said...

I know he loves me because...
he tells me I'm beautiful when I wake up in the morning.
he takes out the trash and changes the oil in my car.
he and I share too many looks and inside jokes to love anyone else.

Thanks for the reminder to remember the little things.

Anonymous said...

Great post!!
He always double checks all the door locks before going to bed at night and he doesn't like the kids and leaving doors open when he isn't home. For 8 years of marriage this annoyed me, but now (2 years later) I feel protected and loved when he takes time to do this!
Angie

Anonymous said...

That is so sweet!! Thank you for sharing your story.

Upstatemamma said...

I know he loves me by the way he comes home from work and takes over for me - without complaining. I know he loves me by the way he does anything he can to lighten my load. I know he loves me by the way he looks at me - even when I am covered in gunk and frazzled.

Anonymous said...

What a great reminder. He shows his love my telling me I am beautiful everyday. He shows his love everyday when he gets home from work....he finds me where ever I am and kisses me and asks how my day was. Even with the kids jumping at him and wanting his attention..he makes sure he does this first...then takes time for the kids. Oh how I love that man!

Courtney@Booksnboys said...

What a GREAT post!
I know my husband loves me because he calls me almost every day during his lunch break - just to say he loves me :)

Kristen said...

I know he loves me.... I need to make my own list! I loved this! Thanks for sharing it with us. Happy Valentine's Day!

MyLinda said...

Great post to remind us to look at the little gestures that speak volumes! My hubby gets the kiddos ready for bed & reads bedtime stories when he knows there is a show on that I want to watch.

LifeAtTheCircus.com said...

GREAT post!
I know my man loves me when he calls on Mondays to say, "I always miss you on Mondays after being home all weekend."

Heather said...

What a great idea for a post! My entry for the carnival is similar to this, so I'll just add this: I know he loves me when... he still puts up with me! Honestly, there are days when I wouldn't put up with me if I had the choice!

Natalie said...

...because of the look in his eyes when he looks at me (even when i am in my sweats!).

Nikki said...

Thank you for your sweet post:)
Wow! I relish all the simple things my husband does for me. Sometimes he throws my bath towel in the dryer for me when he knows I'm in the shower...just to surprise me w/ his thoughtfulness:)

Unknown said...

I know he loves me when he tells me, every day, after eating his dinner, what a good cook I am.

I know he loves me when he is the one who does all the laundry.

I know he loves me because I have never had to clean a toilet from the day he moved into my house.

I know he loves me because he tells me every night, when he wakes up in the middle of the night.

and I know he loves me because he lets me put my cold feet on his legs, and never complains about it.

Sandra said...

Now ladies,
Are you up for this challenge? Print or write down your comments to this post, and give them to him on Valentine's day.

EmilytheCreative said...

Those are so true. And while I haven't been married for 21 years yet (just now pushing 7)I do feel times that he doesn't show his love to me anymore.. but then I think back to when he let me sleep late because he knew I had a rough night with the baby(ies) or he'll shoot me an email telling me he was thinking about me and loves me.. It's those things that remind me time and time again of his true love for me. It can't be bought. Ya know?

Anyway, great way to put things back into the right focus. =D

Anonymous said...

My husband is constantly trying to keep things fresh and trying new ways to show his love. It's nice to take time to notice the little things that we might overlook because we're so busy.

Thanks! And thanks for sharing on BPOTW!

Decor To Adore said...

I am a bit late in visiting via the SWAK carnival, but what a great story!

Melissa Papaj Photography said...

I know he loves me when he sends me texts telling me he loves me or to be careful...

Found your blog on BPOTW!

Anonymous said...

Happy Saturday Sharefest!

I am so with you about holding the door open. It's one of the small things that always makes me feel like he cares!

Have a great day!

Sandy said...

Nice post! Stopping by from BPOTW. It's the little things that count.

betty-NZ said...

Great post!

I know he loves me when he texts me from work when he's just sat down for lunch.

Joe Todd said...

Linda and I have been married 13 years today. Thanks for your post