“A cheerful heart is good medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT)
“Somebody” recently told me after a hilarious, and apparently health good laugh, one of those laughs where you lose it and tears come from your eyes, “Laughter is good for the soul.” The verse above talks about a cheerful heart being good medicine. Laughter brings about a cheerful heart, and yes it ends up helping us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Science has proven it is truly good for our health. So, since you were so faithful reading yesterday’s long meditation, let me be brief this morning and give you a laugh, something good for your soul.
As empty nesters, a couple of bedrooms have become offices, one for my wife and one for me. Now she has more of a structured day because she works from home; only goes to her on-site office a couple of days during the week. I am a little freer and my schedule often starts early in the morning, before the sun rises or before most people rise. You already know! Yes, somebody is saying, “You got that right!” So, during the day I often walk by her office and attempt to make her laugh by some type of funny or humor provoking antic. Yesterday, I succeeded.
I had worn my shoes and socks since early morning. My feet, toes included, had been held captive all day! It was now about 3:00 p.m. I am the type of person who likes to go barefoot at home. So, here is what I do. I take off my tennis shoes and kick them in the bedroom closet. I take off one sock and throw it in the dirty clothes hamper. I pull the other sock down on my foot, stopping right before the area where my toes are located. I go to the door where my wife is focused, working diligently in her office on a major project. I distract her with one of my antics. I start singing, “I’m free, praise the Lord I’m free.” She hears me. She removes her ear buds and looks my way. I point to my toes and tell her, “Look, what I am about to do should be put on Tic-Tock.” I begin singing the song again as a ventriloquist, not moving my mouth, acting as if my toes are singing, “I’m free, praise the Lord I am free! No longer bound, no more sock holding me.” Simultaneously, I use my already bare foot to push my sock all the way off. I keep singing the same words. Now my wife is laughing, for real laughing. I’m sure that the momentary laughter gave her a much needed, small break from the seriousness required to do her work task. I really think it gave her more energy because she ended up working longer than usual. Oh, my!
What I want you to do today is to find a moment to experience some laughter. Like “somebody” told me, “Laughter is good for the soul.” Be sure to take your cheer medicine. Here is a joke I heard a consultant start out with at a business conference over 24 years ago. “A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Why the Long face?” Think about it! Now laugh! Love you! Be blessed!
“(There is…) a time for crying and a time for laughter.” (Proverbs 3:4 Contemporary English Version)