There’s something meaningful about married couples spending time with other married couples. When the energy is positive, they will feed off of one another, serving as a reminder that healthy love not only exists, but it is also all around us.
Support, motivation and simple fun are a few of the benefits that come as a result of planning outings with other couples.
It’s a fact that no one understands the dynamics of a marriage like other married couples. Why wouldn’t we want to include people who can relate to our experience in our circles? We truly need one another.
The reality is it’s not always easy to find friends, in general, that you just mesh well with; but make that two of them who happen to be in a relationship with each other, and it makes it even more complicated.
However, we still know sometimes grown ups like to hang out with other grown ups. While the girls’ nights and hanging out with the fellas are cool, sometimes you want to blend the two. But what happens when you don’t really know any other couples or are clueless in terms of where to even find them? Allow me to provide a little guidance. Here are a few tips:
Church Marriage Ministry
The marriage ministry at your church is filled with couples and could potentially line up perfectly with the Godly principles you may also be following with your marriage. It provides an opportunity to connect, gain spiritual wisdom, and add another level of support for your union.
Even in a church ministry setting, however, we still must be careful in selecting the right couple to invite into our inner circles. It’s okay to take your time and really get to know a pair before you invite them over for dinner. You want to ensure their actions match their words.
Thus, you will be able to tell by noticing how they treat other people and what they say in people’s absence. What you witness is more than likely how you’ll be treated.
Parents at Your Child’s School
Your child’s school is another great option. What better place to connect than with people you at least have something in common with? You’ll instantly have things to chat about, which makes making a connection that much easier.
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Paying attention to how that couple’s child behaves will also give you an insight into what they prioritize as a family. Which definitely helps you in making a decision as to whether or not this is a couple you want to spend time with.
Co-Workers
Your job or your spouse’s job is truly where we spend the majority of our time and allows us to really get to know the people we work alongside. With this particular area, you do have to be extra careful when making a selection.
Doing an extensive screening process before you call them friends or even hang out for the first time, is necessary. If they are a gossip, perform poorly on the job, or speak negatively in general, you already know to head in the opposite direction.
You don’t want to create an uncomfortable situation at work if you find out this person is not who you thought they were. Remember your circle has to be a benefit to your marriage, not a hindrance.
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Once you and your spouse have selected couples to spend time with, it takes very little time to plan some outings. Movie and discussion nights are always a good time. Inviting couples over to watch films based on love and marriage would generate a really healthy conversation.
Book clubs, wine tastings, and weekend getaways are also fun and interactive ways to connect. As you create your couple’s circle, remember to give the other couples an opportunity to plan a date night for the group.
Again, marriages need support. We easily gain that support when we place ourselves in the company of other couples who are also doing their best at maintaining a healthy marriage.
BMWK, how have you found other couples to spend time with?