Rylie has developed a new laugh.  It bothered me at first because it's fake in nature.  Her new laugh is loud and boisterous like she is. And though she's made it sound new, it's root is pure pleasure.  The more I have listened to it, the more I've come to love it. It's contagious.  It's healing. .....It's funny.

Laughter is  known to relieve stress and even physical pain. There has been much research to come to this conclusion, but the bible spoke of it long ago.  Maybe laughter is being spoken of when it says in Proverbs 17:22-

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength. 

 Laughter, after all is an outward expression of a cheerful heart.

I can think of times that I have laughed.... I mean really laughed.  Several of those times were inappropriate. And several of my reasons for laughing were inappropriate.  I remember one of those times was when I was young and in church.

I grew up in a church where monkey business was not allowed.  If you were not absolutely quiet, you may very well be thumped, nudged or pinched- If not by your own parents, by someone else. As it should be, worship was serious business.  But I remember one Sunday morning, a lady who frequently sang, got up to sing a special.  I remember inwardly cringing because I knew she couldn't carry a tune.  I was sitting by my friends (some who hadn't heard her sing) and I knew immediately that I had to be the epitome of seriousness.  One by one snickers escaped my friends.  Even with Herculean effort, I only managed to hold on to mine for seconds, and what laughter didn't escape my lips escaped as tears.  Please don't judge me.

My point is, laughter is release.

Certainly we all have stress and sorrow that we would be eager to be rid of. Laughter, even if only temporarily, let's go pain to the wind.

Laughter lets go joy audibly. Like Rylie's contagious laugh, laughter is joy shared.

Laughter can even be a declaration of victory.

And Sarah said, "God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me".-Genesis 21:6

Laughter is a gift to those around you.  It's also a gift given to you. Maybe the only wise words spoken to Job by one of his friends were these words:

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting"-Job 8:21

Maybe we should consider the prayer of Job's friend. I will pray for Godly laughter, laughter to take away stress and pain, laughter to share joy and declare victory.   And in return for the gift, I will make my laughter a song of joy unto him.

What makes you laugh?