“There is a time . . to laugh.” Ecclesiastes 1:4 NIV
“People don’t laugh enough, and they are the worse for that lack.”
My thoughts today are, “laugh; it’s good for you!”
I was watching Pastor Joel Osteen’s TV program yesterday morning as I dressed for church. It amuses me that he begins every program by telling a joke – brief, uncomplicated, sometimes familiar, occasionally a bit corny, and totally unrelated to his morning’s topic – then immediately begins his sermon for the thousands in the congregation there and the millions watching on TV everywhere. My first thought was that this seems a waste of valuable time. My second, more generous and much less all-knowing, thought was that there were likely people listening to him who may have needed a moment of theirs and others’ laughter as much as any thing else.
Humor can be a mental and emotional mini-vacation that lightens and lifts a heavy heart, when it is good natured and pure hearted without sarcasm or portraying others disparagingly. People don’t laugh enough, and they and their family and friends are the worse for that lack. Laughter can be healing – it freshens thoughts, refreshes emotions, and releases tension. “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.” Proverbs 17:22 TEV.
Our home growing up was a happy place. Our family laughed freely and frequently. A favorite childhood memory of mine was watching lovable comedians on TV beside my Dad, laughing together at the antics of Red Skelton, Milton Berle, or George Burns and Gracie Allen. My Dad had a big smile and a ready laugh. When friends were in our home there was lots of laughter and funny stories. “For the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15 NLT.
I loved my Mom for many reasons, but one of those was that she was always my best audience. My Dad occasionally would say, none too seriously, “Don’t laugh at the boy, Mildred; you just encourage him!” Apparently she ignored his pretended discouragement. I still love a well placed humorous ad-lib, probably more than continues to be funny sometimes. I love laughter that is joyous and spontaneous. How often does that happen to you lately? Why not?
I don’t think people laugh enough. When things are serious and sobering, as our world seems to be presently, a few more leaders with a healthy sense of humor does not seem to me a bad thing, especially ones able to laugh at themselves rather than mocking others. My Dad also said, “Everyone brings joy, some when they come and others when they go.” Be the first of those; bring joy when you come!
Jesus must have had a terrific sense of humor – imagine a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24 NIV), or a judgmental person trying to get a speck out a person’s eye with a sizable log in their own (Matthew 7:1-5 NLT). Read the Gospels. People wanted to be with Jesus; individuals and crowds happily sought His company. I think everybody was happier being with Jesus, except those who thought themselves too religious and self-important.
How do you picture Jesus? I envision Jesus with the most joyous of hearts, broadest of smiles, and most uninhibited laugh – loving life, living abundantly. And that’s exactly His desire for you, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and your joy may be full.” John 15:11 NKJV.
My prayer for you today is that you enjoy laughing and being with people that do.