The Gift of Laughter
A heart full of joy and goodness makes a cheerful face,
But when a heart is full of sadness the spirit is crushed. Proverbs 15:13 (AMP)
Tell me something funny; I want to laugh! We all need several belly laughs a day but I am afraid that the AMA says we fall way short of that goal. The biggest reason? We are too busy! What does that say about us as a nation, a community and an individual? I know this pertains to me because there are many times when I simply take life too seriously and can’t find anything amusing.
What happened to those good old days when we couldn’t contain ourselves and could not stop the giggles? If my memory serves me correctly, our laughter was contagious and we probably got in trouble.
Laughing at life is needed today. By no means does this sanction snickering at people. My dear mother used to say, “I’m laughing with you, not at you!” That did not make sense to me because she was the only one who found me funny. I saw a coffee mug on Facebook that read: ‘Sister, I will always help you up…as soon as I stop laughing.’
Let’s face it, we do some silly things and often say, “I sure hope no one saw that!” When is the last time you found yourself chuckling over something you did?
This season, I am not suggesting that we try to be funny but I am suggesting that we lighten up and try to find more enjoyment in life. It is so easy to get caught up in the Christmas rush with running around to make everything perfect that we forget to smile. Who knows, maybe we might even get a good chuckle out of our antics.
Even if you can’t muster up a good guffaw at something humorous, please try to let others know that being a Christian is not a painful or sour-faced disease! It should be a wonderful and joyous experience. Maybe you might have to fake it for a while but that laughter will soon become spontaneous.
If you’re not laughing by the end of this song, check your pulse.
Father God, we thank You for the wonderful gift of laughter. Help us to use it appropriately and to enjoy friends and family this season. AMEN.