He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21
As we continue our November month of gratitude, on this 21st day we give thanks to God for the gift of laughter and joy.
Happy Birthday to our grandson, Miles! We can’t believe it’s been 8 years since that memorable day! And like all grandparents, our lives changed the first time we saw him and held him in our arms. He captured our hearts and filled a place in our lives that we never knew was missing until he became a part of our world. He has brought more joy to us through the years than we could have ever imagined, as we have watched him grow, change, learn, take on new challenges, and become the loving, big brother and amazing, little guy he is. There have been so many wonderful times of laughter and joy, and what sweet memories we have of our conversations and times together. We are so grateful for the blessing of having him in our lives.
When we think of such a gift, it’s almost incomprehensible to think how much God loves us. He shows us through the blessings He gives us, through the people He places in our lives, through the provisions He gives to meet all our needs, and through the peace, love, and contentment we can find in Him. And He still wants to give us more. Our gracious God desires that we smile, laugh, sing, and shout with joy! And He knows that when we do, we will bless the lives of those around us.
How grateful we are for His wonderful gifts of joy and laughter. He knew there would be times of despair and that we would often become burdened by life, and that we would also need times of humor and laughter to lift our spirits and refresh our minds and bodies. When He created us, He gave us hearts that could be filled with contentment, happiness, and pure joy through a life with Him. He did so out of His deep love for us and His desire that we have lives filled with His goodness.
Solomon expressed it well when he gave us this verse in Proverbs: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” And in Ecclesiastes, he reminds us, “Nothing is better for a man under the sun than to enjoy life!” May we look around us and see God’s goodness and beauty and be reminded of His everlasting love for us. May we remember our many blessings and let laughter and joy fill our hearts.
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, we thank you for the wonderful gift of laughter and rejoicing, and for the people who “light” up our lives. Let us never become so burdened by the cares of this world that we fail to find joy in you and in those around us. Amen
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