Thank God we can laugh. The Bible says the “joy of the Lord is our strength” in Nehemiah 8:10. We also read a cheerful or “joyful heart is good medicine” in Proverbs 17:22.
Effie Leland Wilder has written a delightful book with the title, “Out to Pasture (but not over the hill)”. The book is a fictional account of residents living at FairAcres Home in Drayton, SC. Effie’s insights are humorous and insightful. The plot is simply telling the adventures of a “bunch of old codgers trying to get along”.
The author struck a common chord when she discussed the value of a sense of humor. “Existence at a retirement home—any kind of old folks’ home—would be pretty miserable without that life-saving thing that a benevolent providence built into most people: a sense of humor. Without it we would live in dread or fright or sorrow a good part of the time. We know there is an end to our short road—and that’s a mystery, but it’s the perils on the road that frighten us most. We have the sadness of seeing deterioration in each other. … We want to do something about it and can’t. So, it’s no wonder that we grab at every slightest chance to giggle or laugh out loud.”
I think we could all use some laughter and joy in our life. Especially during the winter months. Maybe this Lenten season we should make a resolution to find some laughter at least once a day. I visited a facility during their weekly “happy hour”. Their “happy hour” was watching re-runs of the “I Love Lucy” show. What joy!
The humorist, Will Rogers, quipped: “When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of algebra.”
May you be filled with the Joy of the Lord.
Chaplain Jeff Meyers
