Comedian Jeff Allen, who does his
act both in Las Vegas comedy clubs and for Christian groups,1 is
probably best known for his stories about marriage. Speaking as though he is
giving advice about what he has learned about a good marriage, he tells
hilarious tales about his relationship with his wife — such as what it was like
when they joined a gym together, and how it has been growing older together.
In one of these stories, Allen
explains how his dad first taught him about marriage. On Allen’s wedding day,
his father offered words of wisdom that Allen says he didn’t appreciate at the
time, but now knows are very true: “Son, I only have one piece of marital
advice for you,” his dad began. “Before you argue with your new wife ... I want
you to stop and ask yourself two questions: Do you want to be right? Or do you
want to be happy?”2
Allen then, as comedians are wont to
do, takes this advice to extremes, saying that he hasn’t been right in years,
but he is “a happy, happy man.”
Being right
While that is not a healthy way to
live, there is a germ of truth in his dad’s advice. Imagine how different our
disagreements with our spouses, children, coworkers and other people would be
if we set aside our desire to be right for the sake of the relationship.
That would seriously change
politics. Our leaders might learn to listen to one another, and talk radio
hosts would sound a lot less angry.
Our Facebook timelines and Twitter
feeds that are filled with people spewing opinions about every controversial
topic would become more bearable.
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