Our world is too full of pain, trials, misunderstandings, hatred, fear and every other negative you can imagine.  So much energy is spent on tragedy that there’s barely any time for a good belly laugh.  When we get mired in the humdrum of everyday living, no amount of Botox is going to lift that face.

If you’re going through a financial crisis, feelings of depression, hopelessness, health issues – the last thing you’re going to do is laugh about it.  God doesn’t want us to be downhearted.  He loves us and wants to see our joy, even in times of trouble.

So just how do you do that?  First of all it’s a great idea to start hanging out with positive people – folks who share your faith and know what God has done for them.  Then try to get your mind off of your own problems by doing something useful, productive, creative or just plain fun.  It doesn’t hurt if it benefits someone else either.

Laughter has proven to be good medicine throughout the ages.  Doctors realize the benefits too.  Sometimes you have to search for the humor in things. While working with a friend, my husband was concerned that the fellow was wearing flip flops.  The guy assured him they were steel toed so not to worry.  Good humor can lead to great working conditions too.

There are times when we have to take things seriously, but there is never a time when we should lose our sense of humor.  By maintaining it, we can wash the muck off the windshield of life and get a much better perspective.

When fears and worries are so real,
We sometimes wonder why we feel,
The pangs of deep depression.

The weight’s extreme – we lose all hope,
Our hearts grow sad – for strength we grope,
To lighten this progression.

We look within and try to cope
There are no answers in our scope
It now becomes oppression.

We try so hard to rise above,
We search in vain for any love.
To deal with this obsession.

We cannot do it on our own,
We need one advocate alone,
To bring our full confession.

God takes our hand and leads us out,
Relieves our pain – our fear – our doubt.
He is our best possession.

His love is great – it sees us through
When there is nothing we can do.
Our words hold no expression.

He lifts us from the pit of death.
He died for us to give us breath.
To wipe out our transgression.

KATHY BOECHER©