Theme: Laughter
Scripture: Psalm 42:5 The Message Version
Why are you down in the dumps, dear
soul? Why are you
crying the blues? Fix
my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He put a smile on my face. He’s my God.
Devotional:
Have you ever laughed so hard that your sides
hurt. I am not referring to a simple giggle. I mean the kind of laugh that has
you gripping your sides, chest aching, cheeks feeling like they’re ready to
explode, eyes watering, and body shaking kind of laughter. It is one of the
most splendid things to encounter. It is splendid because it is a reminder that
joy exists. For me, especially in recent days, there is so much happening in
and around the world that compels tears, lament, anger, sadness, and grief. I
have nearly forgotten what it means to laugh, to be joyous and merry. These
days laughter is a sign that I am alive. And it brings to my mind a time of my life
that wasn’t so merry. It reminds me of the days that seemed so dark and bleak
that I wasn’t sure I would ever laugh again. Lately laughter has been a balm to
my soul. Since the days of laughter feel so few and far between, I cherish even
more, times when laughter erupts in my space. It feels cleansing. It feels
ALIVE.
Perhaps you have been feeling the
drought of laughter in your life and you are yearning for a return. Give
yourself permission to laugh. Of course, there are some instances when laughter
isn’t appropriate – in the moment. I understand that, too. But more than I was willing
to admit, laughter can also appropriately bring folks to a sense of belonging. My
in-laws are big on good natured teasing, jokes, and laughter. Laughter is their
family metaphorical heirloom, passed from generation to generation, and they
take pride in the skill of bringing sidesplitting laughter opportunities to
folks. At first, honestly, it made me a little uncomfortable. For a long time,
I couldn’t name the reason for the discomfort, but it made me curious. What was
it about laughter that made me feel so uncomfortable? Some of it is my family
context. We lean more toward seriousness and sarcasm as a family (which I
should probably process in therapy). So, to find myself in a new family construction,
where laughter seemed to be the default, felt foreign. Over time – and through
a lot of uncomfortable moments of being the only one not laughing
– I learned to embrace the extraordinary gift that is laughter, and I must
admit that laughter has brought such a richness to my life. It feels like laughter
is a surrender, of sorts. It is a chance to let go of the pretense of
perfection and to be mesmerized by the ordinary moment, the funny joke, or the
belly-shaking laughter that can erupt among friends. Again, it feels ALIVE.
Plus,
laughter is good for the body, too. There are psychological benefits: improving
depression, anxiety, and stress. AND there are some physiological benefits,
too. Laughter can increase
oxygen to the heart, lungs, and muscles, increase the endorphins that are
released by your brain, improve your mood, and reduce physical pain. So,
the next time you feel a deep well of laughter bubbling up, go with it. Let laughter
happen. Don’t attempt to control it but lean into it, allowing it to do what
laughter does.
Let’s practice. Knock, knock…😊
Prayer:
God, sometimes it feels as though laughter
evades me. I want to laugh but there is so much hurt in the world, I feel like
it would be an offense. And I know that laughter is good for the soul so help
me to embrace laughter. God, help me to see that laughter can be healing and
that – even when things are hard – it’s okay to laugh. I want to laugh again. I
want to feel joy again. I want others to hear my laughter and it brings joy to
their hearts. Remind me of what it means to laugh and be merry.
Reflection
Question:
When was the last
time you laughed? What makes you laugh? Why has laughter stopped for you? What
will it take for you to laugh again?
