The Session: 8 Simple Steps to a Lifelong Marriage

Genesis 2:24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Housekeeping: How to become a Friend of the Session, book release update

· Build and maintain a solid foundation in Christ

A recent Harvard study shows that attending worship weekly reduces the likelihood of divorce by 57%

· Spend Regular Time in Prayer

Research by David Stoops found couples who pray together have less than 1 percent chance of divorce.

· Speak Highly of Each Other

Make a regular habit of saying positive things about each other. Also avoid negative comments about each other.

· Enjoy Regular Time Together

Spending time together causes a natural byproduct of closeness

· Forge an Unrelenting Commitment to Each Other

From day one, realize that divorce is not an option. A Christian marriage is a covenant between a husband, a wife, and God.

· Keep strong boundaries

Keeping marriage intact often means needing to protect it from outside influences. This means both spouses avoid situations where integrity could be compromised.

· Humbly Serve Each Other

Employ the “others first mentality!”

· Own your struggles and get help

Go before the Lord asking Him for help. Help to be what He has called you to.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com

The Session: 5 Important Fundamentals of Strong Marriages, from The Gottman Institute

Genesis 2:24, "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Research shows that the primary keys to staying married are not about avoiding conflict, but about building positive emotional habits, managing conflict constructively, and actively choosing the relationship.

The top five actionable things that significantly increase your probability of staying married include:

• Maintaining the "Magic Ratio": Couples who experience a ratio of at least five positive interactions for every one negative interaction during normal daily life are highly likely to have lasting marriages. This means building an emotional bank account through small compliments, expressions of appreciation, and inside jokes.
• Turning Toward Bids for Connection: In relationships, a partner makes "bids" when they reach out for attention, connection, or a response (e.g., pointing out a bird or sharing an interesting thought). According to The Gottman Institute, couples who stay together respond positively and lean into these bids 86% of the time, compared to 33% for couples who divorce.
• Avoiding the "Four Horsemen": Research shows you can predict divorce with scary accuracy if you allow four toxic communication patterns to take root: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling. Contempt—such as eye-rolling or mocking—is widely recognized as the single biggest predictor of relationship failure.
• Prioritizing Shared Time and Experiences: Research indicates that couples who engage in regular, dedicated date nights and invest in shared social and religious activities report significantly higher marital quality. Shared couple time reinforces your identity as a team rather than just two individuals co-existing.
• Accepting Influence and Tolerating Imperfection: Lasting relationships are built on compromise and accepting that most marital problems (about 69%) are perpetual issues rooted in personality differences. In heterosexual relationships specifically, research highlights that men who allow their wives to influence them and actively work to compromise have notably happier marriages.

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com

The Session: The Importance of Laughter

Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Joyce Meyer writes in her article, “The Benefits of Laughter!”, “Laughter is so important! It’s the outward evidence of inward joy, and it is proven to make you feel better. The joy of the Lord can ease any emotional and physical pain and bring you a new level of satisfaction in life.”

It has been said that laughter is like internal jogging, and I think that is so true. Laughter improves emotional and mental health, it lifts our spirits, and it dispels worry. It’s almost impossible to be anxious and laugh at the same time. This is why we would be wise to express joy in laughter every chance we get.

Laughter helps in the battle against anxiety, fear and worry. It also helps in the battle against stress, which is the body’s response to what the mind is thinking.

Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review, from the National Library of Medicine

Laughter is a strategy that has physical, psychological, and social impact in relationships improving health, ultimately improving the quality of life.

Laughter has a positive effect on the mental health and immune system.

Laughter reduces the stress making hormones found in the blood stream. This helps the impact on your health.

Laughter impacts cortisol, epinephrine, and dopamine levels.

Laughter releases endorphins- happy cells.

If laughter isn’t a “normal” part of us, how do we find it? Watch squirrels act squirrely out our office window? (no….no, I haven’t done that….)

How do we change a culture of battle or sadness to a culture of laughter in our home?

A devotional podcast for parents on the go! Encouragement, Scripture, & prayer in just 7 minutes. Join the journey!

To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at tom.hccm@gmail.com, or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com