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Why You Need a Lighthearted Marriage and How to Get It
June 01, 2021
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25:22
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For us, laughter and a sense of levity or lightheartedness has carried us through the years. Laughter has been, as Proverbs 17:22 says, “good medicine” for us. But laughter isn’t something that comes easily for all couples.
While we’re not experts on why other couples struggle to laugh together, we do know one of the reasons we can. It’s because we make intentional efforts to live out our marriage with unburdened hearts.
An unburdened heart is a lighthearted heart. Why? Because it’s one that’s not weighed down by grudges. It’s challenging to feel lighthearted and at ease in a marriage, if we’re keeping tallies on each other. If you want a lighthearted marriage, too, listen in as we share three guiding principles that we’ve found helpful.
3 Ways to Have a Lighthearted Marriage:
1. Practice the 49 percent/51 percent policy
2. Serve with no strings attached
3. Have a common enemy
Us Time Challenge:
Actively look for an opportunity this week to give in on something small with your spouse. Put into practice our 49 percent/51 percent policy and see what happens.
Team Us Resources:
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage
FREE Team Us Study Guide
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
The Benefits of Laughter article from Psychology Today
Connect with Ted and Ashleigh:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Cosmaa
While we’re not experts on why other couples struggle to laugh together, we do know one of the reasons we can. It’s because we make intentional efforts to live out our marriage with unburdened hearts.
An unburdened heart is a lighthearted heart. Why? Because it’s one that’s not weighed down by grudges. It’s challenging to feel lighthearted and at ease in a marriage, if we’re keeping tallies on each other. If you want a lighthearted marriage, too, listen in as we share three guiding principles that we’ve found helpful.
3 Ways to Have a Lighthearted Marriage:
1. Practice the 49 percent/51 percent policy
2. Serve with no strings attached
3. Have a common enemy
Us Time Challenge:
Actively look for an opportunity this week to give in on something small with your spouse. Put into practice our 49 percent/51 percent policy and see what happens.
Team Us Resources:
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage
FREE Team Us Study Guide
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
The Benefits of Laughter article from Psychology Today
Connect with Ted and Ashleigh:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Cosmaa
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Meet Your Host
Ted and Ashleigh first met in Chesapeake, Virginia in 2001. In December 2002, they said, “I do, of course!” Since then, they’ve lived in five more states and celebrated the births of four daughters. Both have master’s degrees in Communication from Regent University, and over the years they’ve served as premarital mentors for engaged couples.
Ted’s a website developer, and Ashleigh is the author of the books Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment and Cooperation in Marriageand Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life Is Hard.
Ashleigh has also written for publications including iBelieve.com, Focus on the Family Magazine, Boundless.org, and HuffPost.
Learn more at AshleighSlater.com.
Ted’s a website developer, and Ashleigh is the author of the books Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment and Cooperation in Marriageand Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life Is Hard.
Ashleigh has also written for publications including iBelieve.com, Focus on the Family Magazine, Boundless.org, and HuffPost.
Learn more at AshleighSlater.com.
