Men - Providing and Being There for Your Family Are Two Different Things --- An Open Letter To You

Some of you are excellent providers to your family. Your family loves you and appreciates your work ethic and your motivation to give them the
best you can. That is important, but, in your effort to provide  you
MUST find balance between work and family. It is important to remove
the distractions out of your life to focus on what's most important -
YOUR FAMILY!  Quick to listen and slow to speak. Husband... be that ear
for your wife. Study her... Study Her... Study Her. Understand that she
loves you and she is paying attention even when you think she is not.
She appreciates you being that strong man  (that's why she married
you), but she needs you to  be who you are on the inside. Some have a
public and private persona... but then over the years some allow the
public persona to become their private persona. That's a problem and
can cause problems for you and your relationship with her and your
children.  Do NOT ever think she can't live without you. You do not
ever want the love of your life to get fed up because the enemy will
use that to influence her to leave.Pick your words carefully and do not
ever tell her to "Just Leave" when you know you don't mean it. When
people say that, they are allowing their pride and ego to take control.
Pride and ego are emotions and as many of you already know... that's
where the Devil has a field day. He knows what buttons to push because
your reactions are predictable. You can flip it around and lean not on
your own understanding and rely on GOD to lead you. Take control of
your emotions and ask GOD for strength to change you. Take time today
and Listen.... no matter how much she is repeating the same thing,
Don't try to fix it... just listen. She does not want you to fix it
because she already knows what she needs to do. You are supposed to be
her best friend and she needs to vent. Patience, kindness and love are
three things you must practice. Love your wife as Jesus loved the
church. Practice HIS forgiving love for you on those around you. Pay
attention to your children and do NOT allow distractions (Internet,
cell phones, Television and all the things this world is offering) to
separate your family. And most importantly, look inward and ask GOD to
let you see you as HE sees you and let you see her as He sees her.
Begin with looking

at your issues and ask GOD to heal you so he can come through you. It's not about what you say... it's about what you do... your behavior, your actions will speak for themselves. When
you get to that place, you will see a difference. Do NOT expect
anything in return immediately for your change. It will come in GOD's
timing. Your change has to be sincere and honest. Remember, the change
comes from within you and she will know if it is genuine. Clean up your
own house and don't try to clean hers. When she looks inside your house
and sees that sparkling light... she will know the CHANGE is here to
stay. Nothing will ever have to be said, but, you will see GOD moving
quickly in your life. Don't worry about your work because if you look
back, GOD had you covered all the time. When you had successes you
thought it was YOU doing it when all along it was GOD.

Now its time to acknowledge HIM for carrying you and blessing your family with the materialistic things through you. Remember... YOU DID NOT DO IT...
HE did! Now, use the same motivation and determination you

have to be provider and direct towards building up your wife... strengthening the bond in your family! Family is stronger if it is
together. Even when you are living in the same house, if you never take
time to listen to one another.. your family is already divided. And a
divided house will fall! You have worked so hard to be a provider, you
have now provided the opportunity for Satan to come in and rip apart
your home. It goes against everything you have worked for. Be blessed!