Here we are … COVID-19, a pandemic, something most of us and our marriage have never faced before. You may be experiencing anxiety, job loss or current loss of income, time away from or more time with your spouse due to work demands/work from home situations, and the question mark of what tomorrow holds. Life as we know it has changed dramatically in just a few weeks. People are practicing social distancing while trying to create some time of normalcy for their families.
It is in times like this that we must take time to prioritize our marriage, our spouse, and our home:
1. Communicate openly with your spouse about how you are feeling.
Whether you are experiencing anxiety, fear, or peace – take time to openly communicate with your spouse. Pour your hearts out to one another. Cry together. Laugh together. Too often, when we face a crisis of any kind, we want to close those lines of communication and stay alone in our thoughts of anxiety. Don’t hold it in and don’t let the anxiety consume you.
2. Date at home.
In a time when we are practicing social distancing and avoiding eating out or going to movies – create a date at home to re-connect with your spouse. Make popcorn and watch a movie. Make dinner together. Camp out in the living room and play board games. Bring date night to your home. Dating is about intentional time together.
3. Pray together.
In a time where fear and worry over what tomorrow may hold can easily overrun our minds and hearts – be intentional in praying together. Pray for finances, jobs, children, and marriages. Pray for those who have the virus. Pray for healthcare workers, first responders and those on the front lines. Pray for pastors and churches. Pray for people to listen and adhere to the guidelines set forth so this pandemic does not drag on. Pray for those who are sick and feeling the effects of the virus. Pray for the families mourning the loss of a loved one due to the virus.
4. Try to make memories with your family.
In a time where it can be so easy to draw our focus to feeling isolated from everything – take the opportunity to make memories as a family, reconnect with God, and refocus on what’s important in life. While we often mourn the busyness of life as know it, take this time to reconnect with the beautiful souls right under your roof.
“When you are in a crisis, your strongest position is on your knees.” —Dr. Stephen Rummage
