Devotional Gems by Jolene
Created for Bible Study for Kids
Laughing matter
Proverbs 14:30
By J.D. Griffith
“The One enthroned in heaven laughs”. Psalm 2:4.
How cool! We have much in common with our Father, don’t we?
Kids don’t have to be taught laughter; it comes easily—sometimes too easily.
Isn’t it great that our Creator wove a laugh gene into us? He loves
laughter, and He loves hearing us laugh. The passage in Proverbs 14:30,
in the Bible says, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life”. So when
someone tells you to “lighten up”, the advice is intended for you to
have a long life.
Humor is a funny thing. It’s an amazing tension reliever. It is an
antidote to anxiety. It makes stress dissolve. It’s just like a
tranquilizer, but without drugs and annoying side effects. Laughter is
free! (Unless someone laughs during quiet time, then it can be painful).
President Abraham Lincoln once said when asked how he handled all the
stress of the Civil War, “If it hadn’t been for laughter, I could not
have made it.”
Many people who live in dire circumstances use laughter to make fun of
their problems. It detracts others into laughing at their problems, too.
What a super way to cope with trouble.
Laughing distracts people from self-pity. Laughter shapes a new way to
look at situations so that they don’t seem so awful. It’s similar to
focusing on Jesus instead of circumstances. A new attitude changes the
world.
When you learn to laugh at troubles, you never run out of things to
laugh at. Life is chocked full of funny things.
Take Home Nugget
Did you ever see the face of an orangutan?
God’s a funny creator, isn’t He?
This proves our Father has a sense of humor. God is forming us into the
likeness of His Son each day. Now that gives us license to laugh.
Can you think of a time when Jesus probably laughed?
Times are rough when nothing is funny.
Stepping aside and looking at life a different way
Can be a smart thing to changing focus
And smiles and laughter force frowns away.
J.D. Griffith
