It was another dark and stormy night. Well, it wasn’t actually a dark and stormy night. It was more like a bright and sunny day. And when I say “more like”…it was exactly like that. But strange and mysterious things were about to happen. Oh yes, no doubt about it, and as I’m sure you would guess, it involved…a hot dog. Three to be precise.

 

On this bright and sunny day I decided to make myself a hot dog (angus beef, no less). So I gathered my hot dogs (one for then, two for later) put them on a plate and shoved the plate into the microwave. As they cooked, I prepared the bun with glorious amounts of mustard, ketchup, onions, and relish. The only item missing was sauerkraut. (For some reason Beverly doesn’t like the smell.)

 

With the bun ready for my hot dog. I put it on a plate, took my seat in front of the TV to watch a WNBA basketball game, and began to eat. Everything was going well when my son Matt called out, “Dad, are these your hotdogs in the microwave?” I looked down at the plate on my lap. There sat a half-eaten bun…with no hot dog. We all laughed. Then Matt said, “Hey, where’s my plate?”

 

It is cheerful to God when you rejoice…

 

One of the things that separates us humans from the rest of the animal kingdom, not to mention trees, is laughter. Some (animals, not trees) can make a sound similar to laughter, but they are not actually laughing. Ours is an intentional, vocal reaction expressing humor and emotion, though today it is often used to ridicule and belittle…the difference in laughing with others and laughing at them.

 

I prefer how laughter in the Bible is a positive, happy expression. One is of a blessing to come, as in Bildad’s encouragement to Job: God will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. ¹ Another is of a blessing received: When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. ²

 

Joy is mentioned in each because laughter and joy work together. In fact, the Greek word gelao means: to laugh as a sign of joy and satisfaction. This is the word used when Jesus tells His disciples, Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. ³ Imagine hearing Him promise His friends that though they are weeping, one day they will laugh and be filled with joy and satisfaction!

 

 …or laugh from the bottom of your heart. ⁴

 

It has been said that laughter is the best medicine. ⁵ Probably not the best medicine, but laughter does bring us together. It relaxes us, eases tensions, heals emotional wounds, tears down walls, opens doors, and leads us to a place of joy. So in a sense, laughter may truly be the best medicine.

 

Whether you are the one laughing or the one who brought laughter to others…Each day may God fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy!

 

Ciloa Forever!

Chuck

  

Chuck Graham is Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa, an international ministry devoted to sharing God’s encouragement and teaching others how to “encourage one another as long as it is called Today!” He is also an author, speaker, teacher, and encourager. Chuck and his wife, Beverly, live in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. You can learn more about Chuck and Ciloa at www.Ciloa.org.

 

Footnotes: (1) Read Job 8:21. (2) Read Psalms 126:1-3. (3) Read Luke 6:21b. (4) A quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. (5) “Laughter is the best medicine” is commonly attributed to Proverbs 17:22…A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Pictures: Banner: Cheerful to God, created by QuoteFancy.com. (1) You Shall Laugh Again, from a Facebook post by Calvary Covenant Tabernacle, Stanley, WI, creator unknown. (2) Laughter and Joy, photo by Emi Lija, Pixabay.