The Best Medicine

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"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." ~Charles M. Schulz

 Laughter.  It is contagious.  Look at what happens on a New York subway when one person starts to laugh.  

How about this bus stop-tell me you couldn't watch this without laughing.

Of all the emotions we are able to express, joyous laughter seems to be the most powerful.  It can diffuse a potentially volatile situation, turn away a sad heart, lighten the stress, and take the mind off a pain.  

 It's not just wishful thinking; there's science behind it.  Studies show that laughter benefits your psychological health, reminding you, for example, after we've done something goofy, that all eyes are not always on you- creating a lightheartedness to some of the scenarios of life.  When we are able to laugh at ourselves it keeps us in a teachable mindset, open to learning and growing.  

Clearly not all situations are able to be laughed off; Ecclesiastes 3:4  tells us there is "a time to cry and a time to laugh". But there are so many potentially negative things that happen in our world and personal lives, and to be able to sift them through our minds and find a way to lighten their intensity seems to forge a path of recovery from them.  

 Laughing also benefits us biologically according to the Mayo Clinic, by stimulating the organs & circulation, cooling down your stress response, helping your immune system, and relieving your pain.  God knew this, being the Great Physician that He is, because He told us in Proverbs 17:22 that "a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength." 

I try to incorporate humor as much as possible into my math class.  What's more stressful than math, right?  And what's more stressful than middle school (at least to middle-schoolers).  It's all incredibly stressful to me, so that's really why I do it - I feel the tension leave me as I laugh at my own jokes.  

In math class I see what I like to call "math face" most of the time.

What's your situation or face?  Is it the unapproachable scowl, the determined fixation of "I'm right-you're not", the frustrated "I can't even deal with this right now", or the "I'm gonna cry so you might not want to talk to me right now" countenance? 

Or do you convey an approachable, friendly, "I'm looking for a reason to erupt in laughter" smile?  Over the years I have become painfully aware of times when I am just looking unfriendly as I go about my business.  It's something to just think about.  I've decided I am going to enjoy the laugh lines.

🎥 There are benefits to watching comedy movies as well-

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Of course our Lord, the inventor of laughter, knew we would need it.  I'm thinking once in a while He laughs at stuff we do.  At least I hope He does.  Psalm 2:4 says "But the One who rules in heaven laughs."   As the creator of our emotions, He talks about joy over 430 times in the ESV version of the bible.  I would say He intends for us to earnestly seek joy and find it in our daily lives.  

Job 8:21 "He will once again fill your hearts with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."

Prov 15:13 " A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit."

Ecclesiastes 8:15 "So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink and enjoy life.  That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun." 

✙ Lord, thank You for the gift of laughter & joy.  What a difference a smile makes in our lives.  Would Your Spirit help us to be aware of our disposition, and look for ways to brighten others' days with positive, cheerful, encouraging laughter?  Sometimes on our own we get caught up in the messiness of life, but we know You always provide a way out.  Bring someone in our path this day that we can share a smile with. Make us intentional with our actions Lord.  Thank You for walking alongside us always.  Amen.