Everyone loves to laugh.  Why is that?

• Laughter is infectious.  If you are around someone who is bent over laughing  (and also maybe about to pee their pants if they are a certain age), you immediately smile.  And if they keep on laughing, even if they don’t say a word, you start to laugh with them, and try to get their attention to find out what is so funny, so you can share the joke.

• Laughter, like a good cry, is soul cleansing – but unlike tears, laughter doesn’t usually leave you exhausted or melancholy.  On the contrary, it is invigorating.

• Laughter is bright. Not in an ethereal-lumninous-sort of way, but in a blinding-flash-of-light kind of way.  In fact, you could say

Laughter is audible sunshine. 

• Laughter is refreshing, especially when someone is laughing at themselves.  It reminds you not to take yourself too seriously.

• Laughter is a game changer. When your sense of humor is tickled, and you start to laugh,  whatever foul mood, or pity party, you might be experiencing tends to evaporate.

• Laughter is a gift from God.  Think about it: God invented laughter, just as He did everything else we know and experience.  He programmed us each with our funny-o-meter. And here’s an interesting concept: God laughs.

God laughs?  Of course He does. In fact, I bet He laughs a lot.  No one could create some of the amazing quirky creatures in our world without a lively sense of humor.   He surely chuckles, as any loving parent would, at the many funny things we say and do.  And He must certainly laugh – in that deep satisfied way – when his children step into joy.

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
                Psalm 16:11  NASB

Joy is the hallmark of a person who lives in God’s presence.  Such a person loves. And smiles. And laughs.   

 You might say

 Joy = Love + Laughter.