Devotionals by Dave and Ann Wilson
All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Go … Woo-hoo!
By Bruce Goff
I picked her up at 8:00. She looked stunning.
She had her hair in curls, makeup done just right, and she was wearing a white jean jacket with a pretty dress.
I had on a red tie and was looking not-too-shabby myself. We took a stroll to our reserved spot for our date.
The living room.
A box of cereal and a Nintendo game awaited (I promise we're older than 7).
With a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old, this was our most romantic night in a while.
If you've got little ones and the idea of paying for babysitting makes your Dave Ramsey budget tremble, consider a “stay date.”
Now I don't mean just streaming something while you both scroll through your phones until you fall asleep.
I'm talking about creativity, fun, anticipation, and intentionality.
My wife and I decided to take turns planning. On my first turn I bought a used video game that was easy enough for a beginner* (Kirby's Epic Yarn, if you're curious). I put on an old-timey jazz station. And I found a recipe for hot chocolate made with cereal, which we made together.
We laughed, we kissed, we indulged in amazing hot chocolate (among other things), and remembered we liked hanging out together. And we didn't talk about the kids … too much.
That worked for us. Whatever you do—plan it, get excited about it, and make it fun. When it was my turn, I thought about the details in the days leading up. I mean, I even got those little cinnamon sticks for the hot chocolate.
So if you're in need of a date night or a little bored with how things are going, try a stay date. And hey, together you might even save the universe from some evil cartoon villain.
*If the world was Princess Toadstool and my wife was Mario, we'd all be doomed. That is to say, my wife is video game challenged. But I still love her.
Need some ideas? This article can help with your stay date.
The Good Stuff: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)
Action Points: Run the idea of a stay date by your spouse. They might love the idea, or it might not resonate with them. Don’t assume either way. If your spouse is up for it, volunteer to plan a stay date. Get creative! Make it fun!
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Real FamilyLife® is conversational in nature and provides practical, biblical tools to address the issues affecting your family. You'll receive motivation, encouragement, and help.
About Dave and Ann Wilson
Dave and Ann have been married for more than 40 years and have spent the last 35 teaching and mentoring couples and parents across the country. They have been featured speakers at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® since 1993, and have also hosted their own marriage conferences across the country.
Dave and Ann helped plant Kensington Community Church in Detroit, Michigan where they served together in ministry for more than three decades, wrapping up their time at Kensington in 2020.
The Wilsons are the creative force behind DVD teaching series Rock Your Marriage and The Survival Guide To Parenting, as well as authors of the recently released books Vertical Marriage (Zondervan, 2019) and No Perfect Parents (Zondervan, 2021).
Dave is a graduate of the International School of Theology, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. A Ball State University Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dave served the Detroit Lions as Chaplain for thirty-three years. Ann attended the University of Kentucky. She has been active with Dave in ministry as a speaker, writer, small group leader, and mentor to countless women.
The Wilsons live in the Detroit area. They have three grown sons, CJ, Austin, and Cody, three daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren.
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