Marriage – Page 5 – Family Council

Marriage, Good Relationships Linked to Health and Longevity: Research

May 26, 2022Jerry CoxMarriageMarriage

One of the longest-running scientific studies of human health shows that good relationships — including healthy marriages — are tied to happy lives, good health, and longevity.

In 1938, scientists began tracking the physical and mental wellbeing of 268 Harvard sophomores. Researchers eventually expanded the study to include more than 1,700 other individuals — including children of the original participants.

One point that the data from the study showed very clearly: Close relationships — including healthy marriages — keep people happy and healthy throughout their lives.

As one of the researchers put it:

“When we gathered together everything we knew about them about at age 50, it wasn’t their middle-age cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going to grow old . . . It was how satisfied they were in their relationships. The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”

The Harvard Gazette summarized much of the data in a 2017 article, writing,

The researchers also found that marital satisfaction has a protective effect on people’s mental health. Part of a study found that people who had happy marriages in their 80s reported that their moods didn’t suffer even on the days when they had more physical pain. Those who had unhappy marriages felt both more emotional and physical pain.
Those who kept warm relationships got to live longer and happier, said Waldinger [one of the researchers], and the loners often died earlier. “Loneliness kills,” he said. “It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”

As the article’s title put it, “Good genes are nice, but joy is better.”

Data like this underscores why it’s important to stand up for healthy marriages and strong communities

As Christians, we understand that God designed people to live in relationship with each other and with Him.

Good relationships and good marriages are a strong predictor for good health. We ought to do what we can to promote good marriages in Arkansas.

Family Council Recognizes Arkansas’ Ten Longest Married Couples

Apr 20, 2022Jerry CoxArkansas Longest-Married CoupleFamily, Longest Married Couple, Marriage

*Above: Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside attended Family Council’s 2018 Longest-Married Couple reception at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock.*

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of Whitehall, Arkansas have been recognized as Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. Married 82 years, they met at church and were married on July 24, 1939, in Clarendon, Arkansas. Cleovis, age 100, was 17, and Arwilda, age 96, was 13 when they married.

Family Council, a pro-family organization located in Little Rock, recognizes Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple each year. This marks the second time the Whitesides have been recognized as Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. Family Council Executive Director Jerry Cox said, “Mr. & Mrs. Whiteside are a shining example to us all. They made a marriage covenant with one another almost 83 years ago, and, by the grace of God, they kept it.”

Their story begins when Arwilda and her friend Caroline were walking home from school and some boys began to chase them. Caroline told Arwilda to run to Cleovis, because he would protect them. He did, and he made the boys leave Arwilda and Caroline alone. Years later, while attending a church box supper, Cleovis bought Arwilda’s box supper for twenty-five cents that she had prepared for the event. Caroline then commented that “one day Cleovis will be your husband.” And so, on July 24, 1939, Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside were married. It rained so hard on that day that only his parents, her family, his best friend Detroit, and the minister who trudged through the rain with his horse and buggy, were able to attend. The minister arrived at 11:00 that night to finally marry them at 11:30 just before midnight. The Whitesides have kept their marriage covenant ever since.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson recognized the couple’s milestone with a special letter. The couple will be honored in a ceremony at their church in White Hall, Arkansas, on April 24 where they will receive the Governor’s framed letter, an engraved silver platter, a Bible, flowers, and other gifts.

In addition to the Whitesides, Family Council released the names of Arkansas’ remaining top ten longest married couples.

Thell and Margie Ellison of Natural Dam
Everett and Ina Dell Wilson of Mabelvale
Wesley and Bernice Robertson of Camden
Charles and Ivalee Whedbee of Dayton
Allein and Jean Beall of Little Rock
George & Mary Catherine Martin of North Little Rock
Orin Ray & Imma Jean Robinson of Sherwood
Cecil and Eleanor Simonton of Rogers
Frank & Mary Lou Osbourne of Searcy

Anyone interested in adding a couple to Family Council’s Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple registry should contact Family Council in Little Rock.

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U.S. Leads World in Single-Parent Households

Mar 14, 2022John StonestreetFamilyFamily, Marriage

According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Almost a quarter of U.S. children under 18 live with one parent.

Of course, there are many heroic single parents courageously committed to raising their children. Still, decades of research show how costly it is for so many. Children of unmarried parents, on average, do worse in school, have poorer emotional and physical health, are more likely to commit crimes, and are more likely to have children out of wedlock themselves.

The sexual revolution decoupled sex from marriage while insisting “the kids will be fine.” Well, they’re not.

Christians must speak into this issue with truth and love, especially in a society that fosters adults to seek happiness at the expense of kids. Redefining and reinventing family structures, parenting, and marriage are having horrible consequences.

On Tuesday, March 15, we are partnering with Focus on the Family to address this topic. Katy Faust of Them Before Us will teach how Christians can stand for the rights of children. Register for the live stream at colsoncenter.org/events.