Laughter Is Contagious

I have a confession to make. There are times that I enjoy leaving funny phone messages for my friends. I have created the character Walter Offenbach. Now, if there actually is a real Walter Offenbach, I sincerely apologize!

Walter has been a coach, a floral arranger, a pastor and an elder in a church. I choose one of Walter’s occupations when I leave a funny phone message. The other day, I went into character as Walter the wedding planner. I was really into my character and just going at it with my friend about how the flowers were not going to work with the colors at this fictitious wedding. I said, in my distinct Walter’s voice, “We’ve got to do something about this!”

In the middle of all my ranting and raving, I had pulled into a gas station, but, I was so in tune with my character, I failed to realize that I had actually stepped out of my car. While still acting like Walter Offenbach, I continued fussing about those flowers and the wedding and suddenly I noticed people were looking at me! I just broke out laughing! Life is so much fun, especially when we realize one of God’s gifts to us is laughter and a good sense of humor.

Have you noticed that when you laugh, others around you sometimes laugh too? Have you also noticed that when you share a smile with someone, their countenance changes? We are told in Proverbs 15:13 (NASB):

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.”

The best cure for a broken spirit is laughter. That release can do wonders for our mind and body. We find this to be true according to Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV):

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Be merry today and share some laughter with others!

Category: Friends