By Joseph Perry

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22, NLT

How often do you laugh?

God has given us a great prescription for living a long, healthy and happy life. I found out despite the heavy work load I have, I still find time to laugh. Laughing has become medicine for me as I go through life. Everyone needs to find time in their lives to laugh.

Solomon was a wise king, and he had a lot to contend with as he managed the kingdom, yet he found time to laugh. Why? Because he knew laughing was medicine to his soul.

All of us need to take the medicine of laughing. Studies have shown that laughing reduces stress and boosts our immune system. So many things happen when we take time out to laugh. I want to live a long time — that’s why I’m increasing my medicine intake.

We can’t let people or life issues put us in a position all the time to be serious every minute through life and too often drain the very life out of us. We somehow learn to just tolerate what we have to deal with.

Learn to:

• Have a sense of humor
• Enjoy the journey you are on
• Laugh and live in spite of it all

When we make this a daily habit, we will notice our lives changing and positive effects on those around us.

The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Perry is pastor of St. Mark AME Zion Church. Contact him at josephp134@gmail.com.