(This post was written by Chuck Carringer, Pastor of Family Ministries)

One of the best gifts we can give our children is to model a healthy, God honoring marriage. Our kids learn more by watching us than listening to us. Our children’s initial view of married life will come from what they observe from Mom & Dad. Healthy marriages need some time without the kids.

Let’s continue to date our spouse. (In the spirit of full disclosure, unless you count dinner together at VolLink or the Group Leaders meeting, Emily and I haven’t had a date in several weeks.) There are many reasons (perhaps excuses) why this doesn’t happen regularly -time, money, childcare, etc. A date doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Guys, let’s take our wives for a cup of coffee, an ice cream cone, or just a walk in a scenic area. The activity is less significant than the effort of having some uninterrupted time together.

Let’s keep our marriages strong. Our kids are watching and learning.