Laughter, the Best Medicine

Growing up we always had Readers Digest in the house! I remember being so excited for the newest issue so I could read all the funny parts! Who knew I would actually enjoy the articles as I got older!!!

To carry on the tradition my dad has given us a subscription for the past several years! It's one of the best Christmas gifts too! It keeps giving all year long and it brings back memories for me.

I was reminded of my love of the funny parts this morning when I opened up an email entitled "Laughter". It's from a devotion called Homeword Devotionals I receive daily and this is what it said,

	Laughter This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. — Ecclesiastes 3: 3a One of our family’s favorite songs is from the musical Mary Poppins. “I Love to Laugh” is sprinkled with laughter and often begins a contagious wave of the giggles. The lyrics give a bit of insight into this silly gift of laughter. When things strike me as funny I can't hide it inside And squeak - as the squeakelers do I've got to let go with a ho-ho-ho... And a ha-ha-ha...too! We love to laugh Loud and long and clear We love to laugh So ev'rybody can hear The more you laugh The more you fill with glee And the more the glee The more we're a merrier we! It’s getting worse every year.* Some think that Jesus was always serious, that He never laughed. It is true, that it is never recorded in the gospel accounts that Jesus laughed. Still, Jesus knew the Scriptures. He knew the passage from Ecclesiastes, that there is “a time to laugh.” In Luke, chapter 10, after Jesus has sent out 72 of His followers on a mission, and they had returned and had given their report, we read, “And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning…’ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you Father…” In my own mind, I don’t see it a stretch to envision Jesus laughing. Recent statistics share that laughter peaks at the age of four, meaning that four-year-old children laugh more than they will at any other age. Statistics also reveal the healing power of laughter. Laughter decreases stress, releases natural mood-lifting endorphins, fights off depression, and strengthens the body. It is also a gift from God and music to his ears. So, whether you are four, forty or ninety-four, or whether you snicker, tee-hee or enjoy a full belly laugh, find time today to laugh. *"I Love to Laugh", lyrics by Sherman & Sherman To comment on today's devotional, click here. GOING DEEPER: 1. How is your sense of humor? When was the last time you had a really good laugh? 2. How does laughter affect your life? How can it serve to strengthen your life as a Christ-follower? FURTHER READING: Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 66:1; Isaiah 55:12; Galatians 5:22

After reading that I realized my day isn't filled with enough laughter! Oh, we have our chuckles and smiles, and our days are usually pretty good, but I want the kiddos to grow up knowing we had a happy home filled with God's love!

So, my challenge from here on out is to get out of this winter funk (or whatever this is), slap a smile on my face and let laughter be heard throughout this house!