AFTER the kids are grown and we retire, THEN we’ll have time for us!” Too many couples put their relationship last. Wouldn’t it be better if our kids grew up with a different outlook, that Marriage, as the heart of Family, is important enough to nourish? We can do this in our own homes and among friends. Find out if your church is involved with Marriage Encounter and go on a weekend. (The “encounter” is very positive and relaxed, and it’s not for very troubled marriages.) Or join a couples group that socializes together. Maybe do a date-night exchange, taking turns watching the kids while one couple goes out on a date—or just goes back home alone for a few hours. Give that extra set of tickets to friends who need a night out. Or take their kids with yours to the Children’s Discovery Museum and turn over your pool or hot tub to the parents for an afternoon. All these things are inexpensive or free to you but priceless to your friends. Your ,reward comes when they return the favor, and the community benefits from healthier marriages, both yours and your children’s.
