Laughter Brings Healing

My friend, Dee's husband, Bill had just fallen and broken his hip two days ago. I was hoping to visit him yesterday, but didn't make it. Today, Pastor Marlow asked, "What room is he in? How do we find him?"

Dee responds, "Just look for the bed with all the nurses around it." The congregation chuckled in unison. Everyone knows, Bill loves to talk. When he got baptized a few years ago, Pastor Marlow spoke of how there are no strangers in Bill's life, just people he hasn't met yet. He is a wonderful example of Proverbs 18:24 which reads, " A man who has friends must himself be friendly.."

This afternoon, many of those friends popped into visit Bill. About 4:00 p.m. my friend, Rita and I waltzed into his room to see him sitting up in his hospital bed. "Who's there?," he asked while straining to make out our faces. His wire rim glasses were setting on the end table next to him.

"It's Rita and Leighann, Bill. How are you?," I asked. He put his glasses on. "Now I can see everybody," he responded. It wasn't more than ten minutes later, his wife, Dee walked in with more friends. "Surrounded by beautiful women," we teased him. Bill smiled. As our cajoling heightened, one of the nurses came to close the door so others were not disturbed. Dee commented, "These are the church people."

The party continued to grow with an additional four people from church showing up to visit Bill. Bill shared how blessed he felt to have so many friends around that cared. We joked, laughed, and prayed together for him. When the nurse entered to check his IV bag he asked, "Is it OK that I have all these people up here?"

"Of course, that's the best medicine," she responded.

Bill told us how he had little to no pain after his surgery. Today, he looked great! He had color in his face and was looking forward to getting up and around for more activity. It reminded me of the surgery I had four or five years ago. I too, had little to no pain. Every day got better. God's grace along with the love and support of so many, carried me onward and upward to a great recovery. It was so much so that the woman in the bed next to me asked a nurse, "What about her? What is she taking? I want what she's taking."

God is great and the healing He brings through laughter and cheer is better than any drug a hospital will ever give you!

Proverbs 17:22 reads, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

I thank God for the friends, family, and laughter He has brought into my life and given me to share with others. I thank God for people like Bill and Dee, who are an inspiration and reminder of how good He is. He is a God who loves people and hence must be quite friendly and enjoy great laughter Himself, for this is how He often brings healing.