A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. -- Proverbs 17:22

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
-- Proverbs 31:25

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. -- Psalm 126:2a

Mom needed to stay with me while recovering from yet another fall. We were both exhausted. She was doing everything she could to be independent and not need my help. Let’s just say, that didn’t go so well. We were in the middle of cleaning up a big mess when a fit of laughter came over me. Words that, back in the day, would have resulted in my mouth being washed out with soap, burst from my lips. 

Me, sitting on the floor, mom, just a few feet away, laughed until we cried. What could have been humiliating and discouraging in mom’s recovery was turned into an opportunity for healing.  

“She is clothed in strength and dignity; She can laugh at the days to come.”
-- Proverbs 31:25

Never had I better understood that verse. Getting old can be discouraging. Personal dignity goes out the door the first time you have to call 911 or go to the hospital. Strength fails. Memories scatter like bunnies being chased by a fox. Choosing laughter instead of discouragement or humiliation can make it all more bearable and can often serve us better than almost any prescription drug. 

Sometimes to feel better, we take a pill. It may be an antibiotic, a pain killer or vitamins. But sometimes laughter is the best medicine. The Bible tells us, “A merry heart does good like medicine.”  (Proverbs 17:22) This is not just some great mystical philosophy but a scientifically proven fact. According to the National Institute of Health, these are some of the good reasons for laughter as good medicine:

o   It is natural

o   It is free 

o   It is easy to distribute

o   Has no side effects

o   Is effective to treat stress, anxiety, and depression

o   Has quantifiable positive physiological benefits

o   Has an analgesic effect on pain

o   Can actually kill bad cells in our bodies

The Cleveland Clinic study shows that laughing can reduce stress which in turn reduces risk of heart problems, high blood pressure, and can increase the effectiveness of our immune systems.  

But we don’t need a million-dollar study to tell us that laughter is good for us. Have you heard a baby laugh? I am sure my endorphins went up; my blood pressure went down. Maybe my cholesterol even went down a few points when I heard my granddaughter laugh for the first time. If we could package her laughter and sell it, we would be rich and put the pharmaceutical companies out of business!

Laughing is a medicine that is effective AND it’s contagious. Maybe it is a silly joke that starts the laughter coming, maybe it is a circumstance that could otherwise be overwhelming. Maybe you just need to just look at one of God’s creations (have you watched puppies play or monkeys chase each other at the zoo?) to prime the pump of laughter. 

When we think of health, we think of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. I choose to believe, as the prophet Nehemiah did, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). And ask as David did, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew a right spirit in me.” (Psalm 51)

I want my life to be identified by the joy that comes from deep within, not at the expense of another, but out of the abundance of my heart. I don’t know anyone who has come to the end of life who says, “I wish I would have laughed less.” 

 My prayer for you today is that He will fill your heart with laughter that is a refreshing water to your soul and a healing liniment to your bones. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 

For more words of encouragement and hope, drop in for some Soul Water at www.kerilynnwillis.com

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do you believe that it is important to laugh?

2. Have you ever asked God to help you to laugh even when you don't want to?

3. Ask God to help you make others laugh when it seems appropriate.