The pressures put on relationships during the difficult times we are faced with, challenge our lifestyle daily. With “Stay at home” orders for most of us it means less physical communication with friends and family.
We want to encourage you to be sensitive, hopeful and try to be positive daily.
I’m not saying pretend everything is ok, this pandemic is very serious but we’ve faced challenges before and will face them again.
And we will overcome!
We don’t have control over these situations but we can adjust!
Marriage unity is not based on how we get along when everything is fine but how we join together to face anything that attempts to divide us.
“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
Genesis 2:24
With this as our foundation, Carolyn and I have come up with some suggestions that can help you with your marriage while quarantined and just in general.
Being open to schedule changes can ease the friction of claustrophobia.
As believers, we can use this time to spend seeking God in our relationship
with Him and others.
Our church has instituted 21 days of prayer that’s being streamed daily.
Others are having prayer calls that are easily accessible and free of charge.
Now we also need to fill our day with variety.
Carolyn and I have always played games with our family -- Monopoly, dominos and other board games to break the monotony of watching TV all day. Find some games or activities that can lighten the pressure of being less active.
Journalizing and vision boards are a positive way to use the time we are forced to fill.
Talk about your dreams, accomplishments, failures and being grateful to God for how you’ve overcome and the things you desire to overcome!
These are not exhaustive but you can add to them what you may want to accomplish like yard work, rearranging the rooms in your home and spring cleaning.
Be open to creative ideas from your mate and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
Be encouraging to each other since we have enough negativity coming at us through many avenues.
This is also a time to take your intimacy up a notch or two. Have a scheduled date night and create your own in-house picnic during this time.
Remember God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind and the right to enjoy each other.
Take advantage of this forced seclusion to strengthen your marriage.
Blessings