My husband is a busy man. He has worked hard to provide for us these past 38 years, and I appreciate that. So I don't like to ask him to do extra things for me on a regular basis. But, for gifts, I do ask for some of these little tasks to be done as my gift.
If you recall, last year on my birthday I asked my two daughters to help me spruce up our front porch as their gift to me. One year I asked my husband to install some new shelves in my closet as a Mother's Day gift.
This year for Christmas, I asked him to do some wiring for a light that I got for free several years ago. This light fixture is for hard-wired application, but I wanted to be able to plug it in. I asked him to add a cord and switch to this light.
For my husband, this is a pretty simple task. For me, it's enormous to have it done so I can now use it. I think he enjoys doing a job as a gift for me. He knows that it means a lot to me. And it's in his wheelhouse.
I still need to figure how I will mount the fixture on the wall. But the electrical part is now done, and I'm that much closer to hanging this up in the house.
Do you ever ask for a job to be done as a gift?
I didn't ask for it, but one of the gifts from my husband this year is to wash my car (or take it to the car wash during cold weather) for a year. A very welcome gift - especially when the car is covered in salt from the roads. At this stage in my life, I don't need many things, so gifts of skills and time are greatly appreciated. Where do you plan to hang the light?
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteWhat a thoughtful gift from your husband! I can imagine this will be a gift you appreciate all year long.
I'm not sure yet, perhaps the living room, or perhaps in the small bathroom (that's also sorely in need of extra lighting). I'll take a photo and share when I get it hung.
I hope you share a picture with us when you get the light hung. A gift of skills is a wonderful gift. We haven't officially done that before, but my husband and I both appreciate "acts of service" (from the Love Languages book) and try to do small things for each other throughout the year. My husband is better at it than I am. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteI will surely share a photo once I get it hung.
I'm not sure when the love languages book came out, but I don't think it was out when my husband and I were first together. We've sort of figured this out along the way over the years. But having read that book might have saved us both some frustration, especially in the early years.
Yes! Acts of service is one my love languages as well. Back in our military days, our chaplains would host marriage retreats (with childcare! a rare treat when living far from family) and one that we attended was based on the love language book. We still appreciate what we learned to this day.
DeleteHow nice that you were able to have the lamp wired as a gift--satisfying for both of you!
ReplyDeleteI do ask for things to be done as gifts. Our youngest son, now 14 and turning 15 next month, vacuumed and detailed my car for an occasion before, which I greatly appreciated. Since he's too young for a regular job (most places around here, anyway), it's a good way for him to give a gift without needing cash to do so. My husband and sons also installed 3 new raised beds for me as a Mother's Day gift a few years ago. That did also cost a bit of money, but the labor was appreciated so much.
Hi Cat,
DeleteI think you bring up another interesting aspect of gifts of service,. They often don't involve an outlay of cash (not always, though), and so are suitable gifts for kids and teens to give, or any people who perhaps are enduring leaner financial times. And wow, what a nice gift from your son. I would love to have my car detailed.