Is Laughter Always the Best Medicine?

“There is... a time to weep, and a time to laugh.” Ecc. 3:4

The actor, Woody Allen once said, “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.” Everyone loves a good laugh. Right now you’re laughing at the image of being struck by something funny at the very moment you put a glass of milk to your lips.

We are all familiar with the quote popularized in Reader’s Digest, “laughter is the best medicine.” Who can deny the powerful effect of a good laugh, even when milk comes out our nose? God has designed us for joy and laughter not only for the good of our soul, but for the good of our whole body. Jesus promised that those who weep now are blessed because will one day they will laugh with joy.

However, is all laughter good medicine? Unfortunately, in this fallen world there is a dark side of laughter that is definitely NOT good medicine. Laughter that mocks another person at their own expense is not good for anyone. Is it good medicine to laugh at things that are crass and dirty? Indeed not! Much of today’s laughter is focused around what is off-color, obscene, sarcastic or malicious. Laughter is often used to mock or ridicule others. May God grant us the wisdom to teach our children and grandchildren the difference between laughter that is good medicine and laughter that is bad medicine.

There are few things more beneficial for both soul and body than a good laugh resulting from the pure enjoyment and shared delights of life. Still, while laughter can be good medicine, there is a time when laughter only hurts and damages others. May we learn to laugh at the right things. May God fill us with the joy that produces good medicine laughter for the benefit of both body and soul, and envelopes others into that healing balm.

GRANDPAUSE: “There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they laugh at.” -J.W. von Goethe