What's so funny?

If you ask anyone in my family if I am a good joke teller, they would all most likely say that I am horrible at it. Not because I don't know how to tell a joke, but because I can never get through telling one, without laughing hysterically. Therefore, I really never tell the joke at all. Laughter has always been a part of me. Whether it was my way to deal with the harshness of life or just because I amuse very easily, it has always been inside of me. There were times when I was in school, that if someone would say something that I thought was humerous, I would laugh uncontrollably. And once or twice, was even asked to leave the classroom and stand in the hallway, until I could quit laughing and reenter the room. You will never catch me at the movie rental store with a stack of horror movies, I will most likely have a Disney Movie mixed with a couple of comedies. I just love to laugh. I love the way it makes me feel. I love the freedom in laughter. To laugh, you have to let go of all the stress and the monotiny of life. Laughter is a whole body experience. There is nothing like a good, deep belly laugh to get your blood pumping. Or the kind of laughter that causes you to momentarily lose your breath and cause your eyes to tear up. Now that's good stuff! Did you know that laughter is good for you physically? Laughter raises energy levels in your body and increases heart rate by ten to twenty percent. Ten to fifteen minutes of laughter can increase energy and burn ten to forty calories per day. That can add up to about four pounds a year. So just think about it, when you are sitting laughing with a friend, you are actually burning calories. Laughter can also relieve stress and workout the muscles of your diaphragm, abdomen, back and shoulders. That sounds like a great workout plan for me! Especially when I think that "peanut butter and chocolate" should be the other food group. Hey...a girl can dream. Laughter can also benefit you spiritually. My great grandmother used to always tell me, "Laughter is the best medicine." She was right! Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones." I don't know about you, but dry bones does not sound too pleasant. I want my heart to be healthy..physically and spiritually! It's hard at times, to forget about the struggles we go through, but taking a break from them with some laughter, gives you spiritual energy to face it head on. Nehemiah 8:10, "..do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Joy makes you stronger! Laughter gives you strength! Put down your sorrow and pick up some laughter! Laughter has a way of being contagious. Sometimes I just laugh at someone else laughing, not even knowing what is so funny. That's because other people's happiness is also contagious. That's why when we smile at someone, we immediately get a smile back... because it's contagious! Laughter is a part of our spiritual and physical diet. Hey...maybe "laughter" should be the other food group?! Allow yourself to laugh a little today and take your heart to a whole other level. Grab a cup of laughter today and get healthy!! Proverbs 15:13, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."