“A time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).
The other day as Brooksyne and I were traveling to a company where we serve as chaplains we came across a most unusual site. We’ve seen a number of Amish “trucks” over the years (a buggy with an open back for hauling stuff), but this was our first sighting of an Amish delivery truck with a piece of furniture on it along with a riding passenger! The ladies were laughing as they were mounting the truck and during our exchange of conversation. The sight reminded us of “The Beverly Hillbillies” with Granny riding on the Clampett truck in her rocking chair.
One of the greatest blessings in life is hearing laughter. We begin to laugh from a very early age. One of the maturing milestones for babies is their first smile and then their verbal laughter. The other day I was watching a video of babies laughing which brings out joy in all ages. I considered how therapeutic this pleasurable sound would be in the room of a patient in a nursing home. Just hearing the pleasant sound of laughter is uplifting to a downcast or lonely heart.
Last night we had two babies in our home during our Small Group Bible Study. Nine month old David heartily laughed at the various laughter inducing-antics adults use to get babies laughing (making faces, goofy noises, playing peek-a-boo, and so forth). Three month old Adoree now smiles and sure is laughing here.
“A time to laugh.” Aren’t you glad the Lord gave us the capacity to laugh? There’s a lot to be serious about and there will sure be times in life when we weep. I’ve wept, but I’ve had far more occasions to laugh. I feel laughter is designed by God as a great stress reducer. The verbal expression for inward joy is first referenced in the Bible surrounding the events of Isaac’s birth. In fact his name means “laughter.”
One of my favorite pictures of our Lord shows Him laughing as He embraces the little children. I recall many years ago a man who came to the Lord out of a drug background. He was quite intense and rather somber about the things of the Lord. In a conversation I had with him he made it clear that he was offended at the slightest notion that Jesus would have ever laughed.
Now it’s true that there is not a specific verse that states Jesus laughed but what would have been a more appropriate emotion or physical expression as “He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). Would you prefer to picture Him with a scowl, frown or an emotionless expression?
Today I encourage you to be thankful for the God-given gift of laughter, and make use of it often, for the Scriptures remind us that there is “a time to laugh.” And I really hope you will have some good laughs today!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily Prayer: Father, the day to day living can be so challenging and easily drain us of the pleasures in life if we’re not careful. We thank you for our friends and family who pull us away from that mindset and add laughter to our lives. Would you bring genuine laughter to the hearts of our readers today as they go about their daily duties. May they hear laughter and may they make laughter, verbally, and in their hearts. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
