October 13, 2024 — Episode #41

Jerry and Becky Drace explain why a shared sense of humor is one of the best tools for building a strong marriage and family, using laughter, funny memories, and hard science to make their case.

Drawing from a chapter of Jerry’s book “44 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage,” they distinguish healthy humor that builds closeness from hurtful humor that wounds a spouse and creates distance. Becky shares research on how genuine laughter lowers stress, boosts immune function, and even lowers blood pressure, while Jerry cites Proverbs 17:22, “a merry heart does good like medicine.” The couple swap favorite family memories, including their son dropping the offering plate as a boy in a packed church and their daughter tumbling into a swimming pool in her new Easter dress, and they recommend building family traditions around clean, funny movies everyone can laugh at together. They close by encouraging families to bring more cheerfulness into the home and into everyday encounters with others.

Topics discussed:

• Chapter 40 of “44 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage”: healthy humor
• Medical and health benefits of laughter
• The difference between playful humor and hurtful mockery
• Funny family memories involving their children
• Choosing wholesome family movies and games together
• Becky’s new book, “The Bright Side of Blue”
• Proverbs 17:22 and Ephesians 5:19-20 on joy and thankfulness

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