Laughter has a spiritual value. Men miss it when they think religion is melancholy. Abraham named his promised son "Laughter". We know him as Isaac.
Laughter has constructive power. Let one laugh heartily and well and his body pains leave. His troubles fly away while he laughs.
Laughter can be such a release of tension. How oft we have seen tenseness melt away when someone breaks the tension with hearty laughter.
Laughter binds people together in secret signals. Sometimes you can hear it 'travel around the globe' but notice--however large the circle may be, it is a closed circle.
Laughter makes men brave. I have seen men facing dire danger break out in laughter when someone was witty to make fun of our plight.
Laughter at a proper time can devastate profanity.
Laughter can return a sense of proportion to a troubled mind. For it erases self pity, self-justification, self-importance.
But, perhaps, the most wonderful thing laughter can do is to bring back the will to live.--And, when the times comes, give us the courage to go with cheer.
The Psalmist said, "Laughter doeth good like medicine."
I have seen preachers go into wards where everybody was hooked up to tubes, hoses, and tractions and blurt out "Oh! Don't get up for me." One has to see it to know what medicine that can be for a tortured body.
The power works both ways, the healthy person is sustained by the appreciation that comes back to him.
There is a kind of geniality that brings mirth and confidence. There are two kinds of people, those who have to lean on others and those who have to prop the others up. It is wonderful to be around one of those lifters. Geniality might be described as strength to spare. The power of laughter lies in its ability to lift the spirit. It cannot fly with clipped winger. BL
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