The Last Laugh

Several years ago a German man took his female neighbor to court, for, of all things, laughing too loud! According to CNN, the unemployed man complained that the 47 year old woman who lives in the Berlin flat above his own, kept him awake with over four hours of loud laughter as she enjoyed a meal with eight of her friends. The judge however, dismissed the complaint of disturbing the peace by saying, “Laughter will not be banned!” Thank God!

Nevertheless, we somehow suspect that as far as God is concerned, laughter is banned. We incorrectly see Him as a distant, stern and punishing God who never cracks a smile. And, as children we are taught to be sober and somber in church. For heaven’s sake, don’t look like you’re having a good time!

By studying the creation, we can know a lot about the creator of this world. Take for example the centipede with its 50 legs. Thankfully he doesn’t need shoes! Only a God with a sense of humor would create the platypus; or, what about the zebra with his fun stripes?

A Jolly Prescription

Not only is God both fun and funny; but as our celestial pharmacist, he also prescribes laughter to us as “good medicine.” In Proverbs 17: 22, he tells us that, a merry heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Researchers at the University of Maryland have confirmed that laughter is good for your heart. According to the American Heart Association, researchers found that people with heart disease laugh 40% less in funny situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. They theorize that laughter reduces the impact mental stress has on blood vessels. While stress is associated with feelings of urgency and hostility, hearty laughter brings a feeling of well being. Laughter may be the best medicine after all.

Kathy Lewis writes from Arizona.

If you liked this, you may also like A Cheerful Heart | What Does the Bible Say About Laughter and Its Importance? 

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