Happy New Year!
Seven years ago I was sitting around a campfire with three other dads.
We were on a camping trip with our teenage sons, and while they were playing night games, I was listening to the other men talk about the exciting trips they’ve gone on with just their wives in the last year.
I was filled with envy.
I wanted to get away with just Emily so badly. At the time we had been married about 15 years could count on one hand the times we’ve gotten away.
Negative thoughts flooded my mind:
- How come Emily and I don’t ever get away?
- Kids: Who will want to watch your six kids?
- Money: Money is tight – how are you going to afford it?
- Logistics: Where would you go?
- Time: Your career and family life is so busy – when will you ever find a good time to get away?
I started feeling more and more depressed.
But then, I remembered that God invites me to exercise faith, not doubt and wallow in self-pity.
Over the next few weeks, I started to challenge my negative thoughts one a time:
- Kids: maybe these other Dads can recommend someone they trust that can watch our kids
- Money: maybe I can pick up an extra gig here and there and put that money towards our getaway
- Logistics: I have a friend that’s a travel agent. Maybe she can give us ideas
- Time: Maybe there will never be a “great” time. We just need to open our calendars and find the best time to make it work.
And then the miracles came: we found an excellent family friend that was in-between college semesters that was excited to be with our kids.
We also had an unexpected windfall that we could put towards funding our modest trip
The biggest miracle though was all of the good that getaway did for our marriage:
- It infused our relationship with joy!
- It replenished us as a couple.
- We came home as better lovers, better parents, and better people.
Ever since then, we’ve made the effort to get away a few times a year.
Try this tonight: Open your calendars and set aside times to get away together this year. Challenge your doubts with faith, and look for miracles.
2026 is going to be your best year yet!
P.S. If you need some ideas for getaways, we’re here to help! Over Valentine’s Day weekend (Feb 13 & 14) I’m hosting a virtual getaway we call Next Level Loving. Our April in-person couples retreat sold out, but we have 8 openings for our first Get Your Marriage On cruise!
