April 19, 2024
It seemed like the perfect moment. I'd been needing a power edger for some time now. As a matter of fact, ever since I began my yard service business I've been needing an edger to properly manicure the lawn once I have cut the front and back yards. Yes, I have a yard service, but only one customer – my wife.
If you read this column with any regularity, you may remember that a couple of years ago I announced to Janice my need for a riding lawn mower. When faced with the question, “How are you going to afford to buy a riding lawn mower?” I quickly and somewhat unwittingly responded, “I'll terminate our lawn service and use the monthly payments to pay for the lawn mower. I'll be your new yard man!”
While Janice seemed less than enthused with the plan, she had to admit, it was a plan. I followed through by terminating the lawn service and purchasing the mower. It was a perfect deal. I had up to 48 months to pay it off with 0% interest.
“But I don’t want you to have to do the yard work,” she said lovingly.
I responded, “I don’t mind, really. Besides, it will be a good way for me to get some exercise.” (We have a steep front yard which admittedly gets pretty tough when the temperature climbs and the humidity is high on a late June afternoon.)
Now, back to the perfect moment. It was the first day of vacation and I was dedicating the day to my yard service. Janice announced she was going to make a run to the grocery store. Perfect! I made a run to the Howard’s Hardware to pick up a power edger and a new chain for my power saw.
Just so all of you wives who read this won’t think of me as a sneaky husband, I told her as soon as she got home about my new power edger and assured her it would improve my lawn service. I promised that she would be very pleased with the way her lawn looks when I got through cutting and edging.
I must say, I amazed even myself. This new lawn service we have is extraordinary. The grass is looking beautiful, due to all the recent rainfall and fertilizer I put on the yard. The edging with the new power edger is truly beautiful. When I finished the job, dripping wet with sweat and filthy dirty from the grass clippings and dirt thrown into the air by the edger, I asked Janice if she would like to come and take a look. She quickly obliged, and had so many nice things to say that it made all my effort and spent energy well worth it.
As I was firing up the grill to cook our dinner, she came out of the house with her phone in hand and walked out to the street in front of the house. I hoped that maybe she wanted to take a picture. When she came back up the drive, I asked, “Were you taking a picture?”
“Yes,” she said, “I’m sending it to the girls, so they can see how pretty the yard looks.”
She went on inside, and I felt like a million dollars. I remember one time asking her, “So, lady, are you pleased with your lawn service?”
She responded, “I sure am.” That made me feel so good.
It occurred to me as I thought about today’s events that it is very important to tell others how much you appreciate them, and the work that they do. Employees need to hear from their supervisor that they are doing a good job. Children need to hear words of encouragement from their parents. Husbands and wives need to be generous in expressing their gratitude for all of the efforts of their spouse to make a house a home.
You have the power to make the day for someone who loves you. Being generous with kind and encouraging words is always a great thing to do. I am so glad my wife is pleased with her yard service!
