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