One of the things I think definitely gets lost in the process of growing up is the concept of having fun and playing. It is challenging when you have the weight of caring for a family, holding down a job, maintaining finances, and all of the other responsibilities we tackle as adults. The best way to combat stress though as well as keep things fresh, fun, and growing in your life & marriage is to let out that child in you in order to have some fun and play.

When I think of playing, my first thought is of children. As adults though, we need to play too and remember to enjoy life with a little childish vigor. Sure we may not enjoy playing with Barbies and trucks anymore, but we can adapt our ways of playing to fit being an adult. Maybe you and your spouse love sports; you could join a city league of your choice of sport, play some mini-golf, get some beach volleyball going with some friends, etc. Maybe you and your spouse enjoy games; dust off some Uno or a deck of cards, play some Wii together, go to your local arcade or Boomers, or grab some friends for a board game night. You could check out your local amusement park, go horseback riding, go paint-balling, rollerblading, biking, to the beach, camping, or hiking through the woods. There are tons of fun things to do out there that cultivate laughter and joy in life.

The point is that playing means fun which usually means laughter, memories, and joy. Those things combat the stresses and problems of life. We have all heard the saying “Laughter is the best medicine.” Or there is a verse in Proverbs 17:22 that says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” There are so many verses throughout the Bible that talk about how powerful joy is. Life is chaotic, stressful, painful, and we just need to take a step back sometimes to remember the child in us. Let that child out to play and have fun to cultivate joy and laughter bringing medicine to your life and to your marriage.

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