Life can often feel like a balancing act, and if you’re caring for aging parents, balancing your career, and trying to nurture your marriage, the load can feel heavy. It’s natural to feel torn between the needs of your parents and the demands of your home, work, and marriage. But remember, you’re not alone, and you’re not without help—God is with you in every step.
Scripture Reminder
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” You don’t have to be a superhuman; you just have to lean on God’s strength and wisdom. Caring for your parents is a way to honor them and God, and prioritizing your marriage is honoring the covenant you made before Him.
Balancing Care with Marriage
Here’s an acronym to help you remember how to balance your many roles—C.A.R.E.
C - Communicate Clearly
Be open with your spouse and family about what you're experiencing. Share your thoughts, needs, and emotions. Let your spouse know how you’re feeling and what support you might need. Clear communication fosters understanding and prevents misunderstandings.
A - Assess Priorities Regularly
Life changes quickly, and so do needs. Assess what is most important in each season. There will be times when your parents' care needs more attention and times when your marriage needs more focus. Regularly discuss these priorities with your spouse and be willing to make adjustments.
R - Rely on God and Community
You don’t have to do it all alone. Rely on God’s strength through prayer and scripture, and lean on your community—friends, family, church, and professional support. God often uses the people around us to share the load.
E - Encourage Quality Time with Your Spouse
Don’t let your marriage become a casualty of caregiving. Make intentional time for your spouse to talk, laugh, and connect, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Your marriage is a safe space that needs nurturing, even amid other responsibilities.
Tip for Balancing Life and Marriage
Plan a weekly “check-in” with your spouse. Set aside time to talk about how you're both doing, where you need support, and how to pray for one another. This time to reconnect helps ensure that the needs of your marriage are not neglected, even while you're caring for your parents.
Do make time to communicate regularly with your spouse and check in on how they are both handling the responsibilities. I take time to pray together for strength, wisdom, and support.
Don’t let the weight of caregiving overshadow the needs of my marriage. I avoid assuming my spouse knows what I’m going through without communicating openly.
Action Step
This week, choose one area of your marriage that might need extra attention. Is it quality time, communication, or shared prayer? Make a plan to invest in that area intentionally. It might be setting a coffee date with your spouse, praying together before bed, or simply sharing your heart and listening to theirs. Remember small actions can make a big difference.
************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
"BUILDING BETTER MARRIAGES the 'I do' and 'I don't' of everyday life" PODCAST that digs deep into the heart of relationships, addressing the many feelings, emotions, and core fears that impact the essence of your commitment.
We're talking about healthy, stronger Christ-centered marriages. And while you're there, would you hit "follow" and leave a review? That would help others find the podcast for a healthy, strong marriage! Thank you 🙂
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Here's to Your Love!
When you're still holding onto your vows of "I do," whether it's been 1, 5, 10, 40 years, or more, and you're ready for more, it's time to build your better marriage with the "We Still Do: a 52-day journey to building a better marriage!"
This self-paced discovery workshop will help you create a "togetherness" vision that will deepen your connection, renew your commitment, and lay a solid foundation for a lifetime of love and happiness reflecting your shared dreams, values, and promises.
CLICK HERE TO BUILD A BETTER MARRIAGE NOW