Dating Your Husband Matters

Summer is such a sweet season. The sun warms our bodies, and the flowers make us smile. And is there anything better than watching our kids play gleefully at a park? Another wonderful thing that summer brings is the late sunsets and gentle nights, which are perfect for going on dates with our husbands. I have been married for 18 years, and I am still not an expert on dating my husband. Over the years, we have appreciated the times when a date would land in our laps, such as when grandparents were visiting, but we have struggled to make consistent dating a priority.

About six months ago, my husband and I both decided that our marriage needed to come first and no matter what our schedule brought, we would have weekly date nights. With four children, we knew this would be difficult, but we challenged each other to take this new commitment seriously.  We wanted to laugh more, create new memories, and grow our desire for each other. Today’s verse is a powerful reminder of what most of us had in the early years of marriage, but those thoughts and feelings take work after being together for a while. Deep down in our hearts, my husband and I both knew that we wanted our marriage to become exciting and romantic again and that it was worth the investment in time and money.

Looking back, I wondered why going out on dates with my husband truly mattered. We regularly made time for each other at night, we were affectionate with each other, and we hardly ever fought. But we still knew there was more. God didn’t just create marriage to be a pleasant relationship that produces children. He created the marriage union to forge two sinners together to sharpen, love, support, respect, and challenge the other for a lifetime. This love is a serious commitment and takes great faith. I love the way Psalms 85:10 (AMP) uses the term “steadfast love”—“Steadfast love and truth and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

Peace. That word describes just one of the results from intentional date nights with your spouse. As busy parents, it is hard to find time to truly connect. Date nights allow for unhurried conversation, which every marriage needs to grow. My husband and I have also appreciated that our date nights give us the chance to talk about things besides our kids and logistics. Mamas, aren’t you with me when I say that it is so special to just look into our husband’s eyes, and have him smile at us? My hope for you all this summer is that there are many, many nights spent enjoying time with your husband.

What’s Next?

Would you like some new and creative date night ideas? Click here to access “Rachel’s Super Simple Date Night Ideas.”