Laugh To Live Longer
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NLT)
For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
Psalm 126:2-3 N (NLT)
2 We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” 3 Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
Proverbs 15:13 (NLT)
13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:15 (NLT)
15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Job 8:21 (NLT)
21 He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Ladies when is the last time that you had a knee-slapping, tears running down your face laugh? I am talking about laughing so hard that your jaws are sore afterward, and your stomach feels like you have done fifty crunches.
I am blessed to be able to say, that these are the kind of laughing sessions that I can count on when I spend time with my mom. Whether we are talking on the phone or visiting in person, we can always find numerous things that are hilariously funny to us. We usually laugh so hard that we are doubled over crying, trying to contain ourselves. The crazy thing is that, if one of us thinks about whatever we were laughing about in the first place, and mentions it, the laugh session starts all back over again.
Thank God no one has recorded us, as far as we know.
Recently I came across two quotes that inspired me to write on the subject of laughter today.
“ I have not seen anyone dying of laughter, but I know millions who are dying because they are not laughing”.
Anonymous
“ A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
Charlie Chaplin
Isn’t it interesting that one of the reasons that people give as to why they enjoy dating someone, is that they make them laugh? That is because laughing is fun and it makes us feel good.
When I read the quotes that I mentioned earlier, I was reminded of how children enjoy laughing and playing every day. It seems that as we grow older and have the responsibilities of careers, bills, and families, that life becomes so serious that fun times and laughter are pushed to the back burner I realize that there are certainly people who are enduring hardships or grieving a loss, and there is just not that much to laugh about during those difficult times. There are others, however, that is simply taking life so seriously that they can’t relax long enough to enjoy a great laugh session. Usually, this group of people is stressed to the max.
How many times have you heard the expression “I don’t remember the last time, that I laughed so hard”. Unfortunately, for many of us, this is so true.
Ladies I am convinced that God gave us laughter as a way to release some of life’s stresses. I am also convinced that everyone needs a good laughing buddy, if not several.
There are actually, several great health benefits from having a good laugh. These are a few that I came across in my research on laughter. Hopefully, they will encourage you to laugh more frequently.
Makes you feel better
Wow! It looks like we better start laughing!
Today I want to encourage you to use this gift of laughter that God has given to us, to bring joy to yourself and to others. Find a reason to have a good laugh every day. You will enjoy life more and others will enjoy you more. Laugh and to live longer!
Psalm 118:24 (NLT)
24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.