Laughter Is Good Medicine

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Research shows that laughter plays an important role in both physical and mental health. Laughter releases endorphins, chemicals in your body that produce an overall feel good sensation. Families that laugh together feel closer to each other and overcome disagreements and frustrations faster. Use these ideas to have some belly-rolling laughter and fun as a family.

Act Silly. Tell goofy stories about make-believe characters. Let kids tell stories, too.

Joke Around. Kids love to tell jokes, so let them share their latest after dinner or on trips to sports practice or music rehearsals.

Shake up the Routine. Make usual routines unusual, such as eating dessert first at dinner or watching TV upside down.

Supply Comic Relief. Wake your kids for school in a zany costume, or playa game after dinner that’s sure to result in laughter

Children’s Ministry Magazine, January/February 2008. p 142 Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Okay to copy.

Undercover Kindness

At the beginning of each week, place each family member’s name in a hat and pass the hat around the dinner table, letting each person draw a name. During the week, family members secretly serve that person. People can secretly do the family member’s chores, write a note, leave a small gift, or do anything to show that person love.

At the weekend, let family members guess who served them. It’s fun to love someone on purpose, and your family will be humbled by others’ actions that bless their week.

Contributed by Julie White Loveland, Colorado, Ibid

When things get tight and the world appears full of trouble; keep laughing.

In his last joke book, Steve Allen’s Private Joke File (Random House), the multi-talented comedian reprinted several of his favorite jokes from “The Joyful Noiseletter” in a section on religious humor. (Note: I subscribe to the Joyful Noiseletter and find the humor exceptional and the laughs very healthy. Pastor Shultz)

Excerpts from a “Then and Now” checklist for aging baby boomers:

Then: Long hair.

Now: Longing for hair.

Then: Acid rock.

Now: Acid reflux.

Then: Getting out to a new, hip joint.

Now: Getting a new hip joint.

Then: Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor.

Now: Trying not to look like Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor.

A bishop attended a banquet and a clumsy waiter dropped a plate of hot soup in his lap. The anguished clergyman glanced around and exclaimed: “Will some layman please say something appropriate?”

DAUGHTER: “I can’t marry him, Mother. He’s an atheist and doesn’t believe there’s a hell.”

MOTHER: “Marry him, my dear, and between us we may convince him that he’s wrong.”

A young minister, arriving at the church where he was to preach, was asked by the sexton if he had brought a surplice. “Dear me, no”, was the reply. “Unfortunately, we have had nothing but deficits for the past five years.”

A young minister told his flock that he had a “call” to go to another church. One of the deacons asked how much more he was being offered. “Three hundred dollars” was the reply. “Well, I don’t blame you for going”, remarked the deacon, “but you should be more exact in your language, pastor. That isn’t a ‘call’. That’s a’raise.’”