Joy & Laughter Is Contagious
By Dawn Aldrich
Thursday, October 5, 2017
“...your God has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Hebrews 1:9b NIV
Have you ever noticed that laughter attracts? How it catches your attention when you first enter a room? You can’t help but smile and wonder, “What’s so funny?” Laughter lifts our spirits and lightens our hearts.
Occasionally, I spend the weekends with someone who loves laughter. We laugh from the moment we unload our cars, pitch our tent at the fairgrounds and sell our first books.
We sit side-by-side in the midst of a crowd, glad to be living our author dream, sharing our talents with families, and encouraging aspiring writers. It’s not that we’re privileged or that we’ve enjoyed pain-free journeys, somehow absent the rejection or hard work.
On the contrary, we have both faced hardships (and still do), but the joy of what is complete gives us hope.
And so it should be with all of us on our Christ-journey. Instead, sometimes we hang onto the sorrow of the cross, the suffering, dying Jesus, and we forget the joy of the empty tomb.
Our personal suffering becomes our life’s focus as though it’s how we identify with Christ rather than remembering His resurrection hope, his promise to give us a future, abundant life, and JOY.
The psalmist writes in Psalm 45:7 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Does picturing a laughing, joyful Jesus make you tilt your head and say, “Hmmmm?”
I don’t think Jesus attracted crowds by frowning or furrowing his brow, pointing an accusing finger or motioning toward Golgotha.
Instead, he greeted the crowds with compassion, healing, forgiveness, and hope for the future. That brought joy!
When we focus our thoughts on all Christ has accomplished for us, the joy of the Lord cannot help but shine through us. Joy is contagious!
Others can’t help but catch it.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” Psalm 28:7
© 2017 by Dawn Aldrich. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Thursday, 05 October 2017.
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