Most people laugh when something is funny, but a friend of mine got the giggles because of an argument with her husband.

Grumpiness to Giddiness

She snapped at him every time he tried to engage her in conversation that morning. And as much as she tried to turn off her negative attitude, the bad mood continued.

“I guess you got up on the wrong side of the bed today,” her husband quipped. “Maybe you ought to go back to bed and start over.” 

His words only made her mood worse, and she stomped out of the kitchen. But once she got to the bedroom, she reconsidered his words.

Maybe I do need to start today all over again, she thought.

So she pulled back the covers and slipped into bed. But this time, she got into bed on her husband’s side, which, to her, was the wrong side of the bed.

After snuggling there for a few minutes, she wondered if it would make a difference.

But her “second coming” had an unexpected effect. Her heart felt lighter, and she smiled as she started down the hall to the kitchen. Her crankiness ebbed away with each step and, by the time she reached the kitchen, she was laughing out loud. To her surprise, her husband started laughing, too.

“I went back to bed and started the day all over again, just like you said,” she managed to say between fits of laughter. “But this time I really did get up on the wrong side of the bed. And guess what? It didn’t work the way it’s supposed to. I feel better, not worse. And I don’t feel crabby at all.”

Hilarity consumed them both for several minutes, and tears were running down my friend’s face during her transformation from grumpiness to giddiness. 

The Bible is filled with references to the joy and peace that God brings to people. JOYCE STARR MACIAS

Science Speaks

Laughing had changed her whole attitude because she was willing to try something that seemed ridiculous. My friend had learned that something both science and the Bible say is good for us actually is: laughter. 

• “Laughter has shown physiological, social, spiritual and quality-of-life benefits,” researchers said in an issue of the academic journal Health and Medicine.

• An article in the U.S. National Institutes of Health entitled “The Laughter Prescription” stated that laughter has psychological benefits, which can improve depression, anxiety and stress levels. 

• Interest in the benefits of laughter has caught on with the public, too. There are groups such as “Laughter Yoga” and similar classes that focus on intentional laughter.

• There is even a World Laughter Day. Held annually on the first Sunday of May, it was created by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement. The organization’s website says: “When you laugh, you change, and when you change, the world changes around you.” 

Biblically Speaking

Centuries before modern science became interested in laughter as therapy for mental and physical health, the Bible had already said the same thing. It is filled with references to the joy and peace that God brings to people:

The Book of Proverbs contains some verses about the positive effects of that kind of happiness. 

• Proverbs 15:13 says: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” 

• Proverbs 17:22 says: “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” 

So, how do we get a cheerful face and a merry heart? We can do it artificially, by forcing a smile because we feel like we ought to, or perhaps by taking a laughter-centred class. 

And while those things aren’t altogether wrong, I’ve found a better answer is to turn our lives over to God and let Him be in control. Life is so much better when He is guiding it. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” 

My friend, who has been a Christian for many years, is someone I would describe as a truly joyful, optimistic person. I found it hard to picture her as someone experiencing the anger she felt that day. But what a joy it was to hear the end of the story where she spoke of laughing away her anger.

The best part is knowing that she is thankful to God for every single day—even the one when she got up on the “wrong” side of the bed.

Photo: contrastwerkstatt/stock.Adobe.com