I was looking through some old photos the other day and came across a photo of a very good friend who has passed on to glory, TK Wetherell.
I got teary eyed from seeing the photos of us together and remembering all the fun we had. We laughed about something every time we got together. TK loved life and he loved a good practical joke. He was hilariously funny, and I miss him very much.
Dante wrote that “Heaven grew drunken with its universal laughter.” I’d never really thought much about laughter in heaven until I read that quote. The Bible tells us there will be no tears in heaven, no sadness, no sorrow, no grief and it tells us that no eye has ever seen, nor ear heard the awesome wonders of heaven.
All that sounds so marvelous that I suppose I didn’t think much beyond those descriptors until I read the line in Dante. In Psalms 42:5 we read: “God has a smile on His face.” If Dante is right in his theory of universal laughter in heaven, God Himself will be joining in on it and I would think would be leading the way. What an astounding thought! Can you imagine hearing God laughing? I’ve often wondered if Jesus and His disciples ever enjoyed moments of laughter while sitting around a fire at night or walking the dusty roads of Israel – I think they did. In fact, I can picture Jesus with a huge smile on His face.
Since I have reached my golden years, I laugh far more than at any other period of my life. I was very serious and intense for most of my life. It was difficult just staying alive in my early years and then when I turned to Christ as my Savior, I was very serious about trying to make peace with God and change my life. I had to attack forging a successful marriage, raising kids who loved the Lord and didn’t make the same mistakes I made, and of course building a career. I don’t remember spending much time laughing during that period, at least not as much as these days.
Now that I’m retired, I’m enjoying the fruit of my formerly intense life and I’ve noticed that I’m laughing more than ever before. And I’ve discovered that laughter is one of the things I enjoy the most these days. I regret that I didn’t lighten up a little and embark on that course earlier.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews “There is a rest for the people of God.” I believe the “rest” in its purest form awaits us in heaven and it includes plenty of laughter. Psalm 126:2 – “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them.”
All that sounds good, but seriously why wait? We can have some rest while still on this earth, provided we can control our emotions and not get too swept away by the “world” and its pressures.
I don’t think I’ve attended a wake of someone close to me that during the mourning period someone said something funny, and we all embarrassed ourselves with laughs right there in the funeral wake. If we can laugh at such times why not during less sorrowful times?
Mark Twain said: “Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.” It dissolves fear, worry, depression, and stress at first contact. God desires for us to lead joyful lives. Don’t be too afraid to laugh, for it is the fruit of a joyful life. Don’t wait until retirement to enjoy having a good belly laugh. Why – you can begin as early as today . . .
Psalm 30:11
“You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”