I didn’t write this one. One of my graduated girls did and actually lived by this. She eventually did get married to a wonderful match!  One she laughs that was not her type but is truly her match. I love the both of them (I knew him too). I was a part of their love story. The story of Emily Smith is one brave story I am proud to have had a small part in. 

By Emily Smith

Every girl dreams of her wedding day, right? From childhood, we plan our perfect day: what flowers we want, what dress we want, what color scheme we want. Then we dream about our engagement and plan out how old we will be when the ‘big day” comes. I was going to be 22 when I got married and 26 when I had by first child so I could be a “hot mom”. Well, God had other plans. I am 23 with no boyfriend prospects of being a husband so I decided that I needed to actually think of what I want in a husband. I’m a fan of dating for a long time before getting engaged and this list will help me know whether or not a guy is somebody I want to date. Here’s my list of 10 things my husband will have:

1. A sense of humor:

I’m the funniest person I know, or at least I tell myself that. I’m constantly cracking jokes and I appreciate a man who can do the same. Laughing is my favorite thing to do, so if I’m going to spend the rest of my life with somebody, I sure hope he’s funny. And he has to think I’m funny too.

2. Strong work ethic:

My dad is the hardest worker I know. He gets up early every day and goes to work to give his family what they need and what they want. I expect nothing less of my husband. My dad always taught me that you can achieve anything if you were willing to put in the work. This is something I want to pass on to my kids, and my husband and I need to set the example for them. Having strong work ethic gives you character and makes you appreciate things much more, which is something that I want to see in my husband.

3. A giving Heart:

It’s one thing to be a nice person. It’s a completely different thing to be selfless, caring, and want to serve others. A giving heart allows a man to help others in need and to not act for his own personal gain. A giving heart strives to serve for the growth of God’s kingdom.

4. A future:

This is often something that gets missed. I have been in a relationship that was heading nowhere. Do you know why the relationship was headed nowhere? Because the man was headed nowhere in life. This is a serious thing to consider since his future will become yours. I need to marry a man that has goals and dreams, and has the capabilities of achieving them.

5. A LOT of patience:

A friend once told me that she feels sorry for the guy I end up marrying. I can be a pain. I have an attitude sometimes and I’m always full of sass. I’m known to be a tad dramatic and maybe a little emotional. It’s going to take a very special man to put up with me on a daily basis. God bless him for doing so.

6. A desire for family:

This man will love family, not only his own, but our future one together. Aside from being a wife, there’s nothing I want more than to be a mommy and my future husband must be able to love our family unconditionally.

7. A sense of leadership:

Call me old fashioned, but I believe that a man is the head of a family. In my marriage, I expect to consult with my husband on how decisions will be made and what we will do as a family. I will stand behind my husband, knowing he will lead our family in the right direction just as my father did.

8. A desire to be chivalrous:

Not just because his mom would kill him if he didn’t, but because he was raised to genuinely want to show chivalry toward his wife and others. I feel so respected when a man opens the door for me. I feel incredibly special when a man offers me his jacket when I’m cold, when I’m given flowers for no particular reason, or when he swoops me up and carries me over that puddle because it would ruin my shoes. Chivalry is most certainly not dead, and I’m a huge fan.

9. A wide variety of interests

I like a lot different things. For example, I listen to about 8 different kinds of music in a day. I love to read, write, hike, play music, camp, draw, shoot things, garden… I’m kind of all over the place. Its always good to have interests in common, and it would definitely be good for me to be with a man who likes a lot of different things like I do. I don’t want to do the same boring thing every day. I want each day to be an adventure!

10. A relationship with God

There is nothing more important to me than my heavenly Father and I expect my husband to put God above and before all things. That includes me. When I look to my future 50 years from now, I see myself sitting in church on Sundays next to my husband that I’ve been married to for many years. A relationship, especially marriage, should be centered around Christ. I want to work to serve the Lord and I want to do it together as a team. I will raise my children in a home centered around faith. What I need is a man who will pray with me, grow with me in a relationship between ourselves and with God, and help me to raise our children with love and knowledge of our Creator.

 

 

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