Healthy Practices Of Ministry CouplesSample

Find Your Porch
by Chris & Cindy Beall of LifeChurch.tv

We had just become Mr. & Mrs. Chris Beall when we moved into a little duplex on Mill Street in San Marcos, Texas, in 1993. Chris and I loved this little abode that cost us a mere $400 a month in rent. It was our first place together and even had a second bedroom for guests. But the best part about it was the front porch.

Sometime during that year we instigated something called “Tea Time” and many times during each week, we would plant ourselves on some lawn chairs on that porch and sip some sweet tea. If it was in the evening, we would turn on our stranded owl lights that hung every so gently from the ceiling of the porch. Oh yes we did.

Somewhere along the road, we renamed “Tea Time” to “Porch Time”. Chris and I absolutely love sitting outside on the porch. During the colder months, our study becomes our “porch”. Regardless of the weather, we have a porch.

Nothing is off limits during Porch Time. We talk, remain silent, laugh, cry, share our excitement and our frustrations, pray with and for each other, have fights and apologize. Porch Time is an absolute necessity for us to stay connected in our marriage. Even if we only have 10 minutes on a given day, we go to our porch.

We still like each other after all these years of marriage and ministry. Our marriage is healthier than ever and we are truly for each other. I don't believe we would have what we have today without making sure that we have this time together.

Your porch could be a sitting room, your study, any room in your home or even a walk around your neighborhood. Your porch is unique to you and your spouse. Whatever it is, you need it.

We don't have to tell you that marriage can be stressful. You already know that. But you can maintain a strong union with your spouse by keeping the lines of communication and the doors of your heart open to one another.

Find your porch.

1. Do you feel that your connection and friendship with your spouse is healthy? Share with each other the ways you connect well and the ways you need to improve.