Laughter and adversity

I must admit that I haven't had a lot of reason to laugh in my life recently.

During times of difficulty, it is like you are walking in a fog.  Life goes on around you - routines are followed, but there is that "other something" that is always with you.   That "other something" that can rob you of joy.

Yet here is what I know:  Laughter can bring healing to your soul.

Genuine laughter.

Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

I believe that laughter has an incredible capacity to heal our bodies, our minds, and our spirits.

Humor has the unshakable ability to break life up into little pieces and make it livable - and that in the midst of suffering and adversity - we can find something to smile about if we look for it.

Today, at our "goodbye" lunch with Pastor Amanda, we sat around eating Jimmy John's sandwiches, told stories and laughed.

If felt really, really good.

Laughter helps relieve stress.

It is like the following diet plan that I read today (It is called the Stress diet):

Breakfast:

1/2 grapefruit
1 Piece of whole-wheat toast
8 ounces skim milk

Lunch

4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast
1 cup steamed zucchini
1 Oreo cookie
Herb tea

Mid-afternoon snack

Rest of the package of Oreo cookies
1 quart Rocky Road ice cream
1 jar hot fudge

Dinner

2 loaves garlic bread
Lard mushroom and pepperoni pizza
Large pitcher of Coke
3 Snickers bars
Entire frozen cheesecake, eaten directly from the freezer.

Come on now, that smile look good on your face.

I guess what I am saying is in the form of a prayer, "Thank you Lord for those moments of laughter in the midst of the "stuff" of life!

Just a thought for a Wednesday.