A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
~Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Could finding humor in everyday
situations be beneficial?
A comedy routine was not what I had in mind as I rolled out the dough. Not that making baking powder biscuits isn’t fun. I enjoy mixing the ingredients, kneading flour into the sticky dough, rolling it out on the breadboard, and cutting out perfect circles that turn into puffy clouds of tastiness. This process is repeated until all the dough is used up, except for those bits that aren’t enough to roll out anymore. Yet, even they don’t go to waste. I ball, flatten, and toss them onto the baking sheet. The oven-baked result is satisfied tummies, signified by smiles.
One evening, as dinner ended, I picked up the bread basket and held it out to my husband, seeing that a couple of biscuits remained. “There are two more biscuits left. Would you like them?”
The expression on his face was a dubious one. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
Widening his eyes, he replied, “What happened to them? How did they get that way?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “What do you mean?”
He pointed at the biscuits, “Why would I want two more biscuits? Look, they’re all lumpy.”
I explained how they were the last ones made with the leftover dough.
“Oh,” he said. “I thought you meant they had tumors. You know, tumor biscuits?”
That’s when I realized he was pulling my leg. I don’t know why I didn't expect that because he’s pulled it since we started dating almost fifty years ago. In fact, it was one of the factors in his favor. He made me laugh.
With so many things in our world that upset, frighten, confuse, and madden us, finding ways to lift our spirits, cheer our hearts, and bring on giggles is important. Research shows that laughter boosts our immune system, lessens pain, and relieves stress.
Connecting with your funny bone might take an hour listening to a Christian comedian, reading a clean joke book, sharing humorous stories with friends, or even being offered the last of the biscuits. But it's worth it. So, go ahead and take a serving of laughter.
Think of methods that will bring you a smile and a hearty laugh.
Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study.
I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.
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