He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Job 8:21 (NIV)

The other day I took my daughter to dance class and watched her through the glass window. She was leading a conversation with her classmates just before class started. As I watched her facial expressions, I could tell she was getting to a good part of the story when she began to smile and laugh. The reaction from the girls around her was priceless, as they all started belting out in laughter over this most interesting story.

It brought me much joy to see her interact with friends and bless them with the gift of laughter. It was so contagious that they all enjoyed a piece of it. I am so thankful God gave us the ability to laugh and the joy it brings to our heart.

It has been proven that laughter releases powerful endorphins to our brain and triggers the reaction of wellbeing throughout our body. It is also the one element that affects the diaphragm, throat, abdomen, heart, lungs, and liver. Your body gets an internal workout every time you laugh. It can also strengthen the immune system, boost energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Proverbs 17:22 sums it up this way, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…”

It is so true that laughter is good medicine! Let’s see our world through different eyes today - let’s find time to smile and laugh a little more. It is contagious!

Dear Awesome God, Thank You for creating our bodies with such detail and careful design. What a blessing You give us, the gift of laughter and joy in our hearts. Help us slow down, enjoy the little things, and laugh more often.

Charity O