Growing Your Marriage While a Spouse Is Away: 6 Ways to Protect Your Marriageनमुना

Talk Every Day

Now hear me out - my husband is military. I totally understand that it isn’t always possible to talk everyday. Here’s what is possible. Sharing your heart with your spouse. No relationship will ever flourish if we are simply going through the routine of “my day was good, I paid the bills,” etc.

My husband and I usually start our time apart strong, calling and FaceTiming daily and spending time engaging in fun conversation… then life happens, and we go two or three days without more than a “I love you” text. That’s not enough. Keeping the communication going reflects what today’s verse from Jeremiah says about “continuing faithfulness.” It is the intentional choice to continue to pour into our relationship faithfully.

I want to let my speech always be gracious with Micah, like it says in Colossians 4:6, even when he is away. I want to have meaningful, well-seasoned things to share; not the bland small talk offerings we can drift toward. I’ve started writing down things I want to make sure I share with him about my life. Notes from my Bible reading, funny things the kids did, things I’m praying for, something God showed me, what I’m struggling with, how other friendships are. If it’s something I would typically tell him when he is here, I make a note to share it with him while he is away.

What about you? Can you start a journal and jotting down notes so you don’t forget to connect with your spouse on more than a surface level when you’re able to talk?

Just like our relationship with Christ doesn’t grow without pursuing interaction, openness, and communication with our Creator, we don’t stand a chance growing our marriages if we aren’t talking.

Today’s challenge:

Set an alarm for three different times today. Every time it goes off, shoot your spouse a text or an email 1. To let them know you are praying for them; 2. To tell them you miss them; 3. Tell them something you are looking forward to doing with them when they come back home.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the ability to communicate even amid distance. We pray for the lines of communication to remain open and honest, and that we will be intentional with ways to connect in an effort to protect the precious gift of marriage that you blessed us with.