The ability to laugh, and occasionally to cause others to
laugh, is something that I cherish. As a child, my home was filled with
laughter. My mother had a distinctive laugh, which we heard often. My father
loved to laugh also. They took turns playing the “straight man” for the other’s
comic quips. One of the early lessons I learned was that “it is better to laugh
than to cry.” Later on, I learned that laughing at myself is healthy; laughing
at others is hurtful. These lessons have stuck with me and I still believe in
their value.
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| Jesus Laughing |
I believe in the therapeutic value of spontaneous and
enthusiastic laughter. Yesterday in our Tuesday morning Bible study we all had
a good, hearty laugh over something someone said, quite unexpectedly. It felt
good! Several people mentioned how much better they felt after joining in an
uncontrolled fit of laughing. I don’t understand the physiology of it, but I
believe in it nonetheless. I’ve got theology to stand on here: Proverbs 17:22
declares that “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit
drieth the bones.” (Authorized Version). Moreover, according to Psalm 2:4, God Himself laughs: "The One enthroned in Heaven laughs..."
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the gift of
laughing, for the ability to laugh, for sometimes helping other people to
laugh, and for the things and the people who have caused or helped me to laugh.
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