LAUGHTER IS GREAT MEDICINE

Laughter is great medicine. Victor Borge said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Laughter is helpful in dealing with anxiety, depression, and loss. Children can learn a great deal while just having fun. One of Aristotle’s definitions of human beings is that they can laugh.

It’s great to have a sense of humor. A Swedish proverb begins with this statement: A joy shared is twice a joy. I know people who seem to have been weaned on a very sour pickle. Their thoughts produce poison, and it just pours out into their disposition, words and messages. Why should so much dissatisfaction reside in one individual? It wouldn’t be so bad if they weren’t always on some crusade. It’s pretty sad to not enjoy life.

Such a person can’t ever laugh at self or life. I arrived at school, a couple of Saturdays ago, at 8:30 a.m. I ran into the classroom. Great thing the Prof wasn’t there yet. I got involved in great learning activities. At 10:30 a.m. I left for break. I was talking to this young lady about her parent’s Mexican food restaurant when I ran my hand into my pocket to get my keys. Guess what? No keys! I could see it all now! Locksmith! I got to my car and guess what? Not only were my keys in the car but I had gotten out of it and left it running, and unlocked. Wow! Would you tell that on yourself? Perhaps you would; perhaps not. It doesn’t bother me because I find humor in it. Yeah, it was a little stupid!

I went on to have lunch later with another young lady who is as excited about what we are learning as I am and we had a good time discussing her little 3 year old and my oldest little grand son (who is nearly 3), comparing the two and talking about other things we had learned. After lunch I put all my books on top of the car and got into the car and drove off, scattering everything I had over a 5 block area. My $80 textbook was of primary importance. I got it all back but one little article. Was it testaphobia? Testophobia? (Spell check won’t recognize either—we have created a new word. Which one will we choose?). Exam anxiety? No, that wasn’t until the next day. It was brain dead fun to laugh at myself both times. What will happen next? Who knows! I surely don’t. But, if it hurts someone else, I wouldn’t do it because that never produces laughter (That’s the job of the people back up in the second paragraph). If the jokes on me, I can take it.

You can’t imagine how many less confident people put others down. They themselves act like children. They choose sides and act like children. How sad for them. But, you aren’t like that. Life is great! Have a little fun today. Laugh at yourself. This produces an inestimable amount of fun and self-confidence. Self-esteem is a great and wonderful asset, but we call it Christ-esteem because He is the one who makes it all possible (Phil. 4:13). He! loves you and I do too! h

IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE... PLEASE TELL THEM SO

There has been so much written and spoken about love. So many people have fallen in love, out of love, shared love, received love, returned love, and sealed their love. It has been said that love makes the world go round. If that is true, we should hope love will never go away—especially out of our own personal lives.

Why is love so important to each of us? Why is it an essential part of life? Let me give you a little project for your thought world. You can even write down the questions and answers. I think we would all be better off if we kept a journal of our thoughts and deeds, don’t you?

Love. . . What do you think love is? Is it all emotional? Is it more than a feeling or does it always involve actions? When does love start? How long does it last? Can you really fall in & out of love? Think out or write out your definitions and feelings about love.

I can be quite honest with you. I agree with one of my favorite writers when he says something to the effect that love needs to be taken out of the realm of the feelings and emotions. He had much more to say about that but I believe that love must be an unconditional commitment to serve the one loved or as someone else said Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person! That pretty well fits us all, doesn’t it? I think that is why I can love you, my neighbor, and the person I have never seen before.

Love is not a feeling. Feelings are like yo-yo’s—up and down, up and down. Love just has to be more than a feeling. For God so loved. . . and then what happened? He demonstrated that love for us and I think you know the rest of that story (Jno. 3:16).

I know you have done acts of kindness and demonstrated concern for those you love. When was the last time you told important people in your life that you loved them? If you haven’t done that or done it lately, when will you do it? What power will come to that other person just hearing that from you—those three little words: I love you! That can really change people. I would go so far as to say the sky’s the limit on what can happen. One thing for sure—you will never know until you try it.

I don’t know the answer to all those questions I asked earlier but I am working on them a little at a time. I just know one thing for sure, nothing is much sadder than hearing someone say, How could he/she die before I told them I love them? I know that’s true because I have heard it more than once and have said it myself. . .I do know HE! loves you and I do too. h

IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, PLEASE TELL THEM SO!

There has been so much written and spoken about love. So many people have fallen in love, out of love, shared love, received love, returned love, and sealed their love. It has been said that love makes the world go round. If that is true, we should hope love will never go away—especially out of our own personal lives.

Why is love so important to each of us? Why is it an essential part of life? Let me give you a little project for your thought world. You can even write down the questions and answers. I think we would all be better off if we kept a journal of our thoughts and deeds, don’t you?

Love. . . What do you think love is? Is it all emotional? Is it more than a feeling or does it always involve actions? When does love start? How long does it last? Can you really fall in & out of love? Think out or write out your definitions and feelings about love.

I can be quite honest with you. I agree with one of my favorite writers when he says something to the effect that love needs to be taken out of the realm of the feelings and emotions. He had much more to say about that but I believe that love must be an unconditional commitment to serve the one loved or as someone else said Love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person! That pretty well fits us all, doesn’t it? I think that is why I can love you, my neighbor, and the person I have never seen before.

Love is not a feeling. Feelings are like yo-yo’s—up and down, up and down. Love just has to be more than a feeling. For God so loved. . . and then what happened? He demonstrated that love for us and I think you know the rest of that story (Jno. 3:16).

I know you have done acts of kindness and demonstrated concern for those you love. When was the last time you told important people in your life that you loved them? If you haven’t done that or done it lately, when will you do it? What power will come to that other person just hearing that from you—those three little words: I love you! That can really change people. I would go so far as to say the sky’s the limit on what can happen. One thing for sure—you will never know until you try it.

I don’t know the answer to all those questions I asked earlier but I am working on them a little at a time. I just know one thing for sure, nothing is much sadder than hearing someone say, How could he/she die before I told them I love them? I know that’s true because I have heard it more than once and have said it myself. . .I do know HE! loves you and I do too. h

ANTICIPATION

It was Wayne Gretzky who said, I go where the puck is going to be, not where it is. The QB must throw the football where his receiver will be, not where he is at the moment. How do those guys do that? Did you ever wonder? Is it a sixth sense? I know it involves a great deal of talent. That’s why there is only one Wayne Gretzky and why many of us feel as we do about Roger Stauback.

How could I personally relate this to my daily life when I’m like the proverbial duck that wakes up in a new world every day? I begin by admitting I’m not always where I should be. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I am just uninformed. In my line of work—neither is acceptable to some people. I learned that a long time ago.

Now, not everyone feels that way and one certainly can’t be two or three places at once. But, there are some things I could work on that might help. I can begin by being more sensitive to the needs of others. I can keep my records in better order, recording the needs and expectations of others (I must keep a daily journal—some folks call it my brain—I wouldn’t know why!). I think those are the primary things.

I would like to be a Wayne Gretzky with a puck or a Roger Stauback with a football—but I want to do it in human relations. Why? Because I really do care; even though I fail quite often. I want to meet the needs of others, don’t you? Jesus never missed an opportunity but He had insights I don’t have. No excuses, though! If I am to be like Him I must be available for people. They are worth every minute of my time and all my efforts (Matt. 16:26).

How about you? What do you need in your life to be a Wayne Gretzky or an Roger Staubuck in human relations? Remember, those guys had talent but they also had tons of desire and spent hours in practice. Could it be that you and I need to do the same in human relations? I think so. And, in this case, the desire and practice are the most important issues. You have got to want to and it will work a lot better. Have a great day! Week! Life!

A GREAT PHILOSOPHY

I’ve heard lots of folks give their own personal, “Philosophy of Life.” I got one via e-mail the other from an old buddy down south. I can’t share it with you in its entirety. It would be inappropriate to do so. You might question the appropriateness of changing it just a little but I liked it so much I’ve just had to use it; besides that, it also seemed to be by my favorite author: Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting. . .’What a ride!’—Anon.

What a refreshing way to look at life. To me that speaks loads to a life lived to the fullest and I think it even speaks louder to the dignity of the death that follows such a life.

I would really hate to leave this life not having contributed significance in one way or the other. The critical thing is to live focused on the moment. What can I do right not? I know one place where the issue is concluded perfectly, So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:13).

One cannot show up at the grave with a perfectly preserved body. Everything on the planet exists to be used—I am no exception; you either. I don’t mean to use others to your advantage or selfishly. That’s as wrong as life can get. I mean to be able to lay your head on the pillow at night and be able to know we have used up the day doing what Paul said in Galatians 5:14—The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. Boy, that’s wide open, isn’t it? It glorifies God. It keeps you feeling young creative and full of life.

Now, all you have to do to begin all this is to get up every morning. Now, figure this: today may be the only day I have. I will live it to the fullest and if it’s my last, I’ll just skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting. . .What a ride! Personally, I don’t want any more than that.

And, I can close saying that with all my heart. I’m a believer! A proverbial optimist! Everyone I know is capable of doing great good and we all can face the reality of today and of that grand conclusion. Have a great day and remember, He! loves you and I do too! h

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