The little things in Marriage make a BIG difference!

My wife Ashley and I are members of the local YMCA, but for us, going to the gym is more than just an opportunity to workout. It offers two hours of free childcare, and for parents of three young boys, that’s worth it’s weight in gold! One of our favorite “dates” happens at the Y. While our kids are playing and having fun, we spend the first thirty minutes sitting down and having a cup of coffee and talking with each other. We make sure the kids know what we’re doing to plant that seed in their young minds that their Mommy and Daddy love each other and make their marriage a priority.

A lot of folks walk in ready for their workout and see us lounging on a love seat and they sometimes give us funny looks like we’re wasting our time, but for us, it’s one of the most productive moments of the day. Sure, I’d probably have smaller love handles if I spent that extra half hour on the treadmill, but I wouldn’t trade that time with Ashley for the world. Making time for each other a consistent priority has been one of the most significant, positive decisions we’ve made for our marriage.

Recently, a guy who works here at the Y made a point to stop me and tell me that his daughter and son-in-law were having marriage problems and he had told them about our little “gym date” routine and bought them a gym membership and encouraged them to take advantage of the childcare not only to work out, but to work out their relationship. That was a huge compliment to us and a challenge to continue developing the types of marriage-building habits that are worth imitating. I hope it helps them as much as it has helped us!

Getting a marriage back “in shape” isn’t all that different from getting your body in shape. You don’t get out of shape all at once, and you won’t get into shape all at once, but you can make a decision to immediately alter your course in a healthier direction. Over time, those consistent little investments into the health of your relationship will pay off huge dividends. Your love handles might not get any smaller, but your love for each will grow and that’s really what counts the most!

For more tips and tools for building a rock-solid marriage, please check out our new book: “Marriage Minute: Quick and Simple Ways to Build a Divorce-Proof Relationship” and visit our brand new website: MarriageGateway.com.