GN Commentary: June 2, 2009 - How about a Date with Your Wife?

Too often we forget to make special time for that most important person in our lives—our spouse. Couples need to have time just for themselves.

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Video Transcript

President Obama and his wife Michelle had a date night recently. They flew to New York City to have dinner and take in a Broadway show. It was a break from his busy schedule and an opportunity to spend an evening with his lovely wife. Of course, they were under the watchful eyes of the secret service and the public as their motorcade showed up in downtown New York.

Too often we forget to make special time for that most important person in our lives—our spouse. When you're first in love, you want to be with each other as much as possible. Then work, children and responsibilities creep in and crowd out personal time for the one you love.

Couples need to have time just for themselves. Time to speak openly about things on their minds. Time to speak affectionately to each other out of earshot of the children. Planned time together may be fun, refreshing, informative and strengthening to the relationship.

You are told to "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your...life." (Ecclesiastes 9:7-9).

Husbands are to nourish and cherish their wives according to the Apostle Paul. And, wives are to have respect for their husbands. Both may be accomplished by spending time together (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Here are some benefits of dating your wife:

• Time away from parenting if you have children.
• Time to be together as spouses and not parents.
• Time to enjoy life together having fun.
• Time to talk about marriage and the family.
• Time to share feelings.
• Time to rekindle loving feelings for one another.
• Time to exercise creativity in arranging the date.

Most of us will not be able to afford a trip to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show. But, we all can plan to spend special time with our spouses to refresh our marriages and enhance our families. We can't afford not to make time for the most important person in our lives—our spouse.

For GN Magazine, I'm Gary Antion.