Grace in the Middle: Date Your Spouse
Hello Friends,
I have a question for you—when was the last time you went on a date with your spouse?
What did you do? Where did you go? What did you talk about? Has it been a while since you had a date that felt fun or truly filled your cup?
Dating your spouse is one of the best ways to keep your marriage happy, healthy, and vibrant—no matter what season of life you’re in. I know it gets harder with kids, jobs, and full schedules, but carving out intentional time together is crucial.
Sometimes it helps to make it a recurring event on your calendar. Think ahead and plan ahead:
If you have kids, what will they be doing during your date?
Do you need to schedule a sitter?
Is there something new you’ve both wanted to try?
Need fresh date ideas?
Have you ever tried a progressive dinner date? You enjoy a three-course meal—appetizer, entrée, and dessert—but at a different restaurant for each course. It stretches the evening out, gives you time to digest between courses, and keeps things fun. It can be as fancy or as budget-friendly as you need.
Want to take your conversation deeper? Try bringing a list of fun or thought-provoking questions. You can find plenty online—one great resource is Empowered Homes Date Night Questions, which also offers other creative date ideas.
One thing Ryan and I enjoy is ending our night with a quick stop at Dollar Tree or Five Below to buy something for the other person. Sometimes we set a spending limit, sometimes we give each other a list like:
Something that reminds you of your spouse
Something they need
Something they like
Something you can do together
On a tight budget?
You can still make date night special right at home. Use decorations from your wedding or dust off that fancy china you thought you’d never use. Pull out any fun décor you have tucked away—or make a quick trip to Dollar Tree for inspiration.
This past Valentine’s Day, money was tight for us. I got creative with what we already had: a black tablecloth, vases, and fake flowers. Then, for under $10 at Dollar Tree, I bought two tri-fold poster boards, some “Cricut paper”, candle holders, candles, and a bit more greenery. I used the back of the poster boards to create the look of a restaurant booth, arranged a centerpiece, and suddenly our dining room felt like a whole new place.
And yes, we have two daughters—so they got their own “date” too: a picnic in big sister’s room (don’t worry, I laid a blanket down for spills) with a movie. Everyone had fun.
We’ve also done silly things like picking cards for each other right in the card aisle at the store and “exchanging” them there. Simple, fun, and memorable.
The important thing is this: keep dating your spouse. Keep laughing together. Keep creating new memories. You’ve got this.
Scripture for the Week
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." — 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
Takeaway
Your marriage is worth the time, effort, and creativity it takes to keep the spark alive. Date your spouse—not just to have fun, but to build a stronger, Christ-centered bond that can weather every season.
