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Have you had your laugh today (again)?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the benefits of having a good laugh every day. Medical science has proven what the Bible stated centuries ago. “A merry heart does good like medicine (Prov. 17:22).” Also, Prov. 15:15 says, “A cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

Recently, The Macon Telegraph ran a story about research results that were presented at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology. Michael Miller, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center, shared how twenty couples reacted to watching funny movies versus serious movies.

Actually, the study was measuring how the lining of blood vessels, a layer of cells known as the endothelium, reacted after these volunteers watched various movies that produced stress or laughter. The movies were shown in 15-minute segments while the volunteers were lying down.

For years, researchers have known that stress can have a detrimental effect on blood vessels, including the arteries of the heart, but the new study showed how laughter can have the opposite effect. Laughter caused the tissue that makes up the inner lining of blood vessels to expand, allowing for increased blood flow, according to the study.

What hinders our ability to laugh? Too many of us are too busy to laugh. We're wound too tight and run too fast. We're like the basset hound in Tacoma, Washington, named Tattoo. Tattoo didn't intend to go for an evening run, but when his owner shut his leash in the car door and took off, Tattoo had no choice. A motorcycle officer named Terry Filbert noticed a passing vehicle with something that appeared to be dragging behind it. As he passed the vehicle, he saw Tattoo. Filbert finally pulled the car over, but not before Tattoo reached a speed of 25 miles per hour and rolled over several times. Are you too tired to laugh?

Others have a lousy view of life. Too many share the philosophy of good ol' Charlie Brown, who said, “I have a new approach. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.” We're like the people who populate that town in South Dakota that a sign at the city limits that reads, “Welcome to ___________, Home of 15,000 Happy People, (And a Few Soreheads).” Are you a sorehead?

Life wasn't meant to be dreaded, but enjoyed, and laughter is icing on the cake of a happy life. Life was meant to be celebrated, not tolerated. Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).”

A little boy and his dad went to the pet store to buy a new puppy. The trip had been promised and planned for weeks, so the little boy was really excited when the big day came. He was up early and made sure his dad was up, also. After a quick breakfast, father and son headed out the door, and arrived at the pet store just as it opened.

When the manager opened the door, the little boy shot past him into the store.

“Wow!,” the youngster shouted. “There are so many!” He stood riveted to the spot as he scanned the cages filled with dancing, wiggling balls of fur. He could almost hear the puppies plead, “Take me! Take me!” The dad encouraged, “Son, you need to take your time and look at all the puppies.”

The little boy slowly walked from cage to cage until he reached a golden puppy that lit up when the boy came his way. Gazing into the eyes of the little boy, the puppy stood still ... except for his little tail that wagged ferociously.

“That's the one, Daddy! That's the one!” Kneeling down, the father said, “Son, there are a lot of puppies left to see. Are you sure you want this one?”

“Yes, Dad, I want this one, the one with the happy ending!”

Life has its share of rough spots, but life goes better with lots of laughter. Have you had your laugh today?