Laughter is Good Medicine

Written by Vianne Satterfield

Job 8:21 “He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

Proverbs 15:13 “A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

When was the last time you enjoyed a good belly laugh? You know what I mean. The kind of laughter that causes you to snort, makes your belly hurt, and perhaps produces tears? I had one of those belly-laughs while watching a video of dogs sleeping in very weird positions. It was hilarious! Animals can be very entertaining. Seeing young animals play, whether it be puppies, kittens or kids (goats or humans), is fun, relieves stress and promotes learning.

It is good for you to laugh and smile. It takes more muscles in your face to frown than it does to smile. “A broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” (Proverbs 17:22b) Gelotology, the study of laughter and its effects on the body, recognizes many benefits of laughter to include reducing stress hormones, increasing infection-fighting antibodies, improving resistance to disease and it can temporarily relieve pain. It feels good to laugh, especially a belly laugh, as laughter releases endorphins. When you laugh, it increases blood flow and stimulates many organs. Laughter is indeed good medicine!

Bursting into song and laughter has helped me to relieve my chronic muscle and joint pain — especially during chiropractic or massage therapy sessions, and sometimes it surprises them. My sudden song bursts bring laughter to others as well.

Having a good sense of humor is an important trait that will serve to increase resilience too. When we laugh at our quirkiness and the lemonade we make from life’s lemons, we bounce back more quickly, and can adjust more easily to difficult circumstances.

There are lots of things happening in our world today that produces sorrow, anger, anxiety and other negative emotion. Yet as followers of Christ, we can experience joy during hard times, especially as we remember the amazing things the Lord has done and is doing today. It is imperative that our faces show gladness and cheerfulness. When I am out in public and wearing a mask, I will smile and tell the person I am speaking with that I am smiling! Our joy can be contagious! The world needs to catch joy and laughter.

Give yourself permission to laugh at yourself or cute animals jumping around in their pajamas. Read articles from Christian satire sites such as Babylon Bee. Watch a Christian comedian on You-tube such as Tim Hawkins or Jeanne Robertson. Enjoy clean comedy such as funny guy, “Ricky Mokel,” otherwise known as Grant Turner. Find humor in everyday situations.

Smile. Enjoy laughter. It will be good for you and for those around you.

Share in the comments how laughter has served to help you experience joy and cheerfulness.

Finding My Identity in Christ

I found a poem I wrote in 1992 about returning to the Lord, and it reminded me of the traumatic events I experienced that year. I used to describe it as “my year from hell,” as there were several circumstances that caused distress and discouragement, such as two auto accidents within a month, being victimized by having my identity stolen, my mom nearly died from heart failure, unemployment, and being in an abusive, ungodly romantic relationship. Stressful situations can be difficult to manage, especially without the guidance and support of a relationship with God. Fortunately, with the help of a few trusted friends whom guided me to God’s truth about who I am in Christ, I confessed, repented and turned back to God. I then broke off the abusive, ungodly relationship. I still had stressors and difficulties but I faced it with God’s help. Perhaps a new understanding of 1992 could be “The Year I Returned to Loving God,” rather than “My Year from H E Double Toothpicks!”

This year, 2020, has been quite challenging too. For many, this year represents challenges surrounding health, finances, and community-connections all made difficult through COVID-19, the recommendations of social restrictions, racial tensions, and trauma from natural and man-initiated events. Perhaps we can find the silver lining in this year despite its outcome. Maybe this could be your year of relying on God. For me, I am learning new things and trusting God to lead me into new territories of new assignments. It has taken courage and faith in what I am hearing from the Lord as I seek Him to guide me in writing, blogging and pursuing meaningful work.

As a result of the new things God is leading me towards, I am again reminded of who I am in Christ. Focusing anew on God’s Truth, His Word, helps to renew my mind and it encourages me to take steps of faith. Perhaps you too can benefit from seeing yourself from God’s perspective. I call these my affirmations, as they affirm my identity in Christ, empower me to walk with confidence and enable me to trust God more fully. I say these Biblically-based affirmations aloud or I will listen to me speaking them on a recording that I keep on my smartphone. Either way, God’s truth gets inside my brain and creates new places of trust as I believe His Word as truth.

Here are some of my affirmations: I belong to God and am dearly loved. I am accepted by Christ, united with Him. I am chosen and called out of darkness into light. I am His workmanship, created for good works and I have a God-given purpose. I am renewed and made holy because of Christ’s righteousness. I am forgiven and not condemned. I am being transformed by renewing my mind. I have a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. I am blessed with every spiritual blessing. I have hope because Christ dwells within me. He enables, empowers and equips me for each challenge set before me. I am given provision for my needs. I am built up in Christ, and He will complete His work in me. I have abundant grace from Christ — He is enough! I walk with confidence to approach God’s presence. I have the mind of Christ and can do all things through Him who strengthens me. I am equipped and prepared by God to do _____ that He has prepared in advance for me to do.

These affirmations are based upon the promises of God. They can be yours too as you trust, believe God and allow His grace to transform you.

What are your favorite promises of God and how has it transformed you? I would love to hear from you. Share in the comments.

Climbing Mount Everest

I participate in a healthy weight program that provides education, support and accountability through health coaches and like-minded group members. My group coach provides creative challenges that serve to motivate me to accomplish my health and wellness goals.

One weekend, the group was given the challenge to “climb” Mount Everest. The goal was to climb to an elevation of 29,029 feet, which equaled 58,070 steps. I accepted the challenge along with a dozen other group members. I thought, “How can I walk that many steps?” At the time, my average daily step count was under 3000 steps, so the task seemed daunting to me, however, I decided to join the challenge.

Climbing Mount Everest, as a part of a group effort, made it doable. (I didn’t really climb that mountain, although the hill on Marneil Drive is pretty steep!) I felt motivated to get my steps done because I wanted to contribute to the team’s effort of reaching over 58,000 steps for the weekend. The group members live around the globe and we were in this challenge together, giving step-count updates throughout the weekend and encouraging one another to keep climbing to meet our goal.

My contribution was a mere 4% of the grand total. Someone actually recorded over 15,000 steps in one day. How does one walk 7 1/2 miles in one day?! One step at a time, I guess. Others, like myself, recorded under 10,000 steps for the three days. As a group, we climbed 194,761 steps in three days! Unbelievable! But we worked together, as a team. I walked more steps that I thought I could, and it has served as an ongoing motivation to keep climbing “mountains” to meet my health and wellness goals. Now my daily step count has nearly doubled since participating in this challenge nearly two months ago.

It was an exhilarating experience because I partnered with people worldwide to contribute towards one purpose, and as a result of working together, we exceeded our goal. In the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

This worldwide team effort reminds me of what The Church, or the body of Christ, is supposed to be — united, working together, encouraging one another towards maturity in our walks with Christ, and sharing the good news of Jesus with the world.

The Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians in Ephesus, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6

The Psalmist writes, “How good and pleasant it us when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

Let’s not give up on unity within the body of Christ. Remember, as followers of Christ, we have peace with God. This peace glues us together. We belong together as we follow Christ and have access to Holy Spirit’s empowerment because He dwells within us. We have hope because of Christ’s life and look forward to eternal life with Him. I pray we would be true representatives of a united Church that works together and not against each other. I pray we would be true representatives that encourage and bear with one another, build up one another instead of tearing down one another. I pray we would keep sharing our Jesus stories with the world so that His name may endure forever and his fame continue throughout all ages. AMEN.