Last week on Valentine’s Day I was at the home of a friend of mine who was entertaining her five young grandkids for a week so that her daughter could travel on a much needed, long overdue anniversary trip with her husband. This was no ordinary week with Grandma! Those kids had more fun packed into one week than their mom admittedly can pack into six months. They spent a long day at the Children’s Museum, went to the park, a petting zoo, the movies, played outside all day, and even hosted a massive Valentines Party for about 30 young kids ages 12 and under. The party I attended with my five younger kids was loaded with sugar and sunshine, painting, go-carts, pizza making, and cookie decorating. It was a perfect day, and her grandkids didn’t give a second thought that day to the fact that mom and dad were away at a resort in Mexico. When mom and dad came home, not only were their love tanks full from time away and alone, but their kid’s love tanks were overflowing from an action packed week with the grandparents.
This got me to thinking
If more of us set aside our own personal schedules and routines, and embraced the children of a couple in need of a long overdue get-a-way…
maybe we wouldn’t see a 60% failure rate in marriages?
If more of us actively sought out a struggling young couple with small children, or teens at home, who might be in need of a long date night, maybe we could save just one marriage?
I heard on the radio a few weeks ago a powerful message from Andy Stanley, he was speaking to the Christian church who often have the mindset that we have a greater impact on the world when we host marriage conferences for hundreds of couples, or travel to the foreign mission field and preach to thousands of people, or when we give to causes that put water wells in third world nations and save entire villages, or traveling to orphanages to volunteer for a couple of weeks sharing God’s love to dozens of orphans?
All these things are wonderful acts of service, but how many of us can (and will) drop everything and do something “BIG” for God?
Andy Stanley made a powerful statement that morning on the radio that I won’t forget,
“DO FOR THE ONE, WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD DO FOR THE MANY”
Look around you this week. Somewhere nearby, there may be a couple in need of alone time. Perhaps a date night, a three or four day retreat, or even a week long get-a-way?
We reap what we sow.
Who’s marriage are YOU helping?
If you are looking for an incredible book on marriage, my friend, the above referenced super Grandma, Johnnie Seago wrote a great review on Tim Keller’s The Meaning of Marriage.
Laundry Mom~Erin♥
