Contagious

​Do you know what is contagious and the best medicine all at the same time? Something that can make you hurt and feel good simultaneously? That magical thing my friends is Laughter. If you have laughed until your sides hurt, or laughed until you cried, you know what I am talking about. Many times, this happens when children are around, they will say and do things that are just plain funny. We are always recalling something that was said or done by our precious miniature comedians, and laugh for months afterwards. I have also experienced a grieving time where family would gather, and at an appropriate time, someone would recall a funny memory. The next thing you know the room would erupt in laughter. The healing effect of laughter works at the core of all emotions.

A Time to Laugh

In the context of these wide range of reactions, laughter was written about many times in the Bible; “A time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4), “A joyful heart is good medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22), “when our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy,” (Psalm 126:2), “God has made laughter for me,” (Genesis 21:6). How long has it been since you have had a good laugh? In the social media world, we express our laughter by typing LOL (laugh out loud). But do we really laugh or just think it would be a good time to do so? A time to laugh and a time not to laugh. Here is a quote from Pastor Don Thran, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing Iowa; “Laughter is a good icebreaker for people to get to know one another. It’s such a fantastic outreach that it’s hardly a laughing matter.” What a wonderful statement as we go out into the broken world to share the joyous message of our risen Lord and Savior and how God had the last laugh over death. When Jesus was buried in the tomb, and on the third day rose again, all believers were filled with laughter and tears of joy.

Laughter, Joy, Faith

If we would incorporate laughter with our faith, what would that look like? Would we actually smile with joy before or after the sacraments and absolution? When we sing praises to the Lord, would we lift up our hands to the heavens (Psalm 134)? When we give thanksgiving to the Lord for all He has given us would we “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 100)? What an evangelizing thought as all would see what joy there is to know Jesus. My heart leaps for joy for all God has given and blessed me with, and I should LOL and show my neighbor how happy that makes me to know that same gift is theirs, if they just believe. Now that is truly good medicine that will be eternally contagious. Dear Lord, thank you for giving me the means of grace and the emotions to show my joy with laughter, help us share that eternal joy with others. Amen.