Week 186: Marriages and Retirement

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Please join us this week in praying for marriages facing retirement.  Retirement, whether the retirement of one or both spouses, can be a significant stressor in a marriage.  Even when the retirement is a free choice and comes at a planned time, it creates changes in schedules, changes in relationships and changes in routine.

All these changes, even when desired, carry some level of stress.  When the retirement is forced by an employer or ill health or comes at an inconvenient time (like when retirement savings have taken a plunge), the stress can be even greater.

Some level of discomfort in a marriage at retirement time is often experienced just because many people just don’t handle change well, even positive change.  Change means unknowns and unknowns create fear in many people.  A fearful spouse or a fearful couple does not bode well for marital harmony.

And of course we have all heard of occasions when someone has eagerly anticipated retirement only to be dissatisfied, restless and bored when the retirement actually arrived.  A dissatisfied, restless and bored spouse can cause marital strife, particularly if the retired spouse expects his/her mate to fulfill the physical, emotional or intellectual voids that accompanied retirement.

Pray this week that couples facing retirement will
  • Experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
  • Have a positive attitude and outlook about change, even if the change was not desired
  • Understand life is not over and God is not finished with them yet
  • See their retirement as an opportunity to use more freely their time, talents and resources for the kingdom of God
  • Delight in the additional time they will have with each other
  • Resist the temptation to vegetate
  • Engage in activities that will keep their minds and bodies strong and sharp
  • Be long-suffering and compassionate with each other as they adjust to the changes and deal with the fears of retirement

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