In the Old Testament, in Proverbs chapter 17, we read that a joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I think most of us would agree, it's pretty important to maintain the sense of humor in

our marriage, but how can you do that when you're facing really hard times?

I'm John Fuller along with my focus colleagues, Aaron and Greg Smalley, and Greg, I know you

love statistics.

You knew we were going to be coming up on this topic, laughter humor.

Why is that important?

What does the research show?

Yeah, and I love laughter, and what's really amazing is that the research shows the

couples who laugh together are happier, and then happier couples have longer and healthier

relationships.

So really the question is, okay, duh, why?

And I think what humor does is it really adds excitement to long-term relationships,

so when Aaron and I are laughing, there's just an excitement there.

Greater intimacy is we have these shared inside jokes, Aaron and I love it when we're at

dinner parties or something, and she'll make a hand gesture or mouth something or whisper

something in my ear, and I know exactly what she means by that, and we'll share that laugh.

It's also an effective stress reliever after us, and that's always going to help in this

crazy, chaotic, busy world that we live in.

And laughter also really helps us to navigate well through difficult times.

So those are some of the reasons why laughter makes a difference in our marriage.

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