When was the last time you laughed? Not just a chuckle. Really laughed. The gray skies of Illinois combined with the pandemic and looming economic crisis and loneliness leave us with little reason to laugh. Yet, the science is out there:
“Humor is described as an element of resilience and can allow you to put everyday problems in perspective, increasing your coping capabilities in difficult situations. It moderates the adverse effects of stress on health and promotes a positive mood to cancel out negative emotions. It helps to see the funny side in adverse situations. Genuine laughter is also contagious, so why not help improve someone’s mood by sharing a laugh with them?”
Andal, Elizabeth, “7 Scientific Reasons Why We Should Laugh More,” LifeHack
We sat around the table last night and laughed. It was good for my heart. I know it was good for theirs. I noticed that we need to do this laughter thing more. We need to find reasons to laugh more. I asked Alexa to play happy music and she chose country love songs. Not exactly.
As I was praying and walking yesterday, I came to the conclusion, I do not want to be the same person before this started. I do not want to fall into the same habits as before. I want to be moved. I do not want to go back to normal. Heroes are being noticed. Real heroes.
People who clean the medical buildings. Police. Firefighters. EMTS. Nursery care workers. Medical professionals. Restaurant workers. Teachers/professors who now have to figure e-learning for their own kids and for their students. They are the heroes. And when we get back to whatever our new world will be, may that not change. May we decide that they deserve our respect and care.
5 LORD, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.
Friends, it’s not perfect here at the B house. There’s grieving here and dying to self. There is anxiousness as I have lost my income. Yet, my God reminds me today who is my cup and who is my portion. I look ahead and see he is good. He has never failed me. The Lord has asked me to trust him. The Lord has asked me to rest in him. He has asked me to laugh.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me–even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the LORD guide me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Night is a difficult time. I’ll wake up and wonder. And I choose to remember he is good. I choose to remember who he is in my life and in my family. He is right here with me. So I am being changed. I am not shaken. (I may be a little stirred at times.)
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
So, today I choose. I choose to have joy. I remember his amazing grace. I am here because of his love. He has a path for me today. His presence is abundant joy. I’ll rest in that today. Come with me.
Peace.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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