April 19, 2024
Healthful humor stimulates wit and stirs up laughter. It creates closeness and intimacy between people. Hurtful humor creates pain and distance. Healthful humor and laughter are never used to cause pain but spring from the smiles which originate in the heart and explode in the face. Humor brings a spice to marriage that has its own unique scent.
A doctor friend once told me that people who have a genuine sense of humor seldom have ulcers. Laughter releases stress and puts circumstances in perspective. Laughter also lowers blood pressure, increases oxygen in the blood, and promotes healing in the body. Laughter gives our bodies a good workout. Laughing is better than sweating any day.
When tragedy strikes a marriage, as in severe illness or death, the memories of the happy, humorous times filled with laughter and joy will serve as a source of strength. The laughter of children will echo throughout the years when the rooms stand empty and the trophies sat gathering dust.
When your spouse of many years has departed this world, those occasions of humor will be engraved on your heart and will live again as fresh as the moment you laughed together. The scriptures tell us in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good, like medicine.” Laughter is truly the best medicine. It is one of God’s gifts.
After reading together Psalm 126:2 and Eph. 5:19-20, ask your spouse to share a funny memory of some special event. You do the same before going to bed.
This series of devotions relating to marriage are taken from “44 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage” by evangelist and pastor Jerry Drace.
