Laughter is defined as a physical reaction in humans consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible, contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. If you are too busy to laugh you are entirely too busy. Synonyms that are often used for the word laugh are cackle, chortle, giggle, crack up, hee-haw, guffaw, roar, snicker, belly laugh, chuckle – and there are even more synonyms than that.
That laughter has so many synonyms attests to the fact that it plays an important role in the life of every happy person. Though you know this to be true, you probably have never thought of laughter as being one of God’s very special gifts. Mirth is lacking in the lives of those who are unhappy and seldom, if ever, laugh. As a result, their face gives the impression that they have just eaten a sour dill pickle six inches long.
The Old Testament character Abraham laughed when God told him that he and Sarah were going to have a son. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was ninety. You can understand why they laughed. It was probably a belly laugh on the part of both of them. Becoming parents at their age doesn’t normally happen. Their laugh could very likely be described as a healthy hee-haw. Three cheers for both of them!
A Baptist lady a few years ago said to her pastor, “My dog died this morning and I want to know if you think it is alright to have a funeral for him. He was like a member of our family.” The pastor, somewhat taken by surprise at this request, said, “Yes, I suppose it would be appropriate. But I have a very busy day tomorrow. You might ask the pastor of the Presbyterian Church only three blocks from your home.”
She replied, “Thank you, pastor, for this suggestion. I will call him this afternoon to see if he will conduct my dog’s funeral. By the way, how much do you think I should I pay him? I am thinking of paying a preacher at least $300.00.” “My dear lady,” her pastor replied, “Why didn’t you tell me your dog was a Baptist?”
Dr. Elton Trueblood, in his book, The Humor of Christ, points out that we often misunderstand the character of Jesus. We often think of Him as being mild-mannered, endlessly patient, and always grave and somber in speech. We just assume that there was no room for levity in the life of the Son of God. Sometimes He did on occasion become angry enough to call His enemies “whitewashed tombs, full of putrid and decaying flesh.” However, at other times He was teasing and teaching with a brilliant kind of irony and humor.”
I read recently the humorous story of a church that called a conference to discuss the building of a new sanctuary. One gentleman, quite well off financially, stood up and protested the building of a new building, saying it was a waste of money. He said that refurbishing of the present facility was what should be done. As he took his seat he sat down rather hard and jarred the pew, shaking the side of the building.
A piece of plaster fell from the ceiling and hit him on the head. He quickly rose to his feet again and exclaimed, “This building is in worse shape than I thought. I pledge $25,000 to the new building fund.” Upon hearing these words one dear sister at the rear of the sanctuary could be heard saying, “Hit him again, Lord!”
As the preacher in Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.” We tend to think that weeping is religious and laughing is a sign of irreverence. Not so, for humor has an important role to play in the life of a Christian. The wisdom found in book of Proverbs grows with the passing of time: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful; but heartache crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:13 NIV).
We don’t stop laughing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop laughing.
The Paper Pulpit 
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