Laughter

“My left arm hurts!” she yelled through the glass partition window that separated us.

“I already know that, Ma’am,” I replied without any bit of concern.

“You’re not going to send me to the hospital?” she queried.

“Not at all,” I confidently answered.

“My face now is getting numb!” she yelled again.

“Just have a sit and relax! That’s all you need to do.” I ordered.

Pacing back and forth in the small area of the Clinic’s waiting room, oblivious to her, I watched intently with my spying eyes from a distance as I pretended to continue working in the computer. She was walking normally going in and out of the bathroom when she thought no one was watching her.

I got up in between and asked, “So, how are you now?”

“Still hurts! You need to send me to the hospital. They need to give me something for pain!”

“Just RELAX! Here, take this cup and drink water!”

“Ma’am, it’s cold here! Can I get a blanket?”

“No! Because this is a waiting area. That was the reason why the nurses earlier had sent you back to your unit because it would be more comfortable there. They were not able to do anything further like me at this time because our doctor had already given you something for pain.” I explained.

“But you need to send me to the hospital!”

“I’m sorry. This is the last time I am going to explain to you that you don’t need to say that to us! We know when we need to send you to the hospital! You saw that your blood pressure and everything else was normal! There’s nothing wrong with you but you need to relax because of your anxiety. You’re letting it consume you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I had told you earlier that another nurse had already referred you to our Mental Health Services. Our medical doctor can’t do anything about your anxiety because it has to be the Mental Health Doctor who needs to see you. Just be patient and try to relax. I know it’s not easy on your part.”

And she sat quietly, curled up on one of the blue chairs in the waiting area. Her demands ended and she was thinking deeply. She knew she couldn’t get away with all the complaints she faked, no matter how hard she tried.

Just like so many incarcerated inmates who are suffering from anxiety and other mental health problems, we all can try to relax and amidst our sorrows, we can find that time to laugh and energize our spirits. I thought about Sarah who laughed after being told by God that she would have a son despite her old age. Or how about people who found that freedom that comes from Him?

“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dreamed.
 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
   our tongues with songs of joy.” - Psalm 126:1-2

When we abide by Truth and Spirit, we must be careful to look at His Word about laughter. We shouldn’t change His Word to conform to what we experience but rather conform to God’s ways.

When was the last time you really had a good laughter? I saw this cute baby and what made him laugh was so simple but listen to the baby’s pure joy. God bless.



"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;"
- Ecclesiastes 3:4

16 comments:

  1. What a joy to hear that baby laugh. I find it hard to laugh these days. Someday soon I'm sure.

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  2. I read stories and Psalms to my daughters at night as they were growing.

    When we came to this line,
    "Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.”
    in Psalm 126, my youngest daughter started to laugh out loud.

    The line tickled her funny bone and she loved it! So I told her I was giving her a nickname for the rest of her life.

    She is called "Song of Joy", for the melody of joy she has crafted in all lives she touches.

    And, as she grew, if we became separated at the Mall or grocery store, I yelled out "Song of Joy" and she magically showed up.
    She knows her nickname well, and it drew her one stitch closer to her dad on Earth, and her Dad in Heaven.

    I delighted reading that line today, for it again reminds me of my youngest daughter, and makes me smile.

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  3. @ sister Wanda: I pray you will be filled with His joy! Take care and God bless.

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  4. @ Keystone: What a special memory you have with your daughter in relation to one of the Psalms. Your stories bring me high and low. Low meaning it reminds me of always surrendering myself to our good Father Who records our lives. You are a father rich with those precious memories and I always thank you for always sharing them with me. Your love and faith always encourage me. God bless you richly and thank you for your prayers.

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  5. Rosel, thank you for your post and particularly that video. I tell you I couldn't help but start laughing along with the little guy. God bless and know that you are in my prayers. Lloyd

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  6. I saw the video too... laughter is a medicine God invented to bring healing and joy to our lives!

    You are on the right track, get lots of healthy laughter and songs of joy!

    Love
    Lidj

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  7. lol, That is so cute. I saw it long ago. Laughter is good medicine for us. Thank you ~ Blessings ~

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  8. I would love to experience that kind of full blown laughter in that baby! Blessings to you Rosel.

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  9. Rosel, you are such a blessings to those inmates! I pray that there will be many who will see His light through you. Your patience is what calmed that girl down. We both know where that comes from.
    Praying that Wanda and Just Be Real will someday very soon experience that kind of laughter. That babies laughter is so contagious. Thanks for sharing. You are a beautiful woman and you are such a blessing. I receive so much from your writings; and look forward to many more.

    Tammy

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  10. Thank you you all for your prayers and sweet encouragement! You all bless me in special ways.
    Thank you bro. Lloyd for always keeping me in prayers. Sister Lidj, only by His grace I am able to remain joyful despite this trial I'm in. Thank you for coming by sister Cathy. JBR, you're always in my prayers...You will...in His perfect time...Thank you for dropping by sister Tammy. All the glory to our good Father! God bless and love to all of you.

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  11. I was reading quickly through this post and then stopped at your words ... "you're letting it consume you." All too often, we allow this world to consume us, things of this world to consume our joy. Thank you for sharing this. Aine :)

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  12. I just posted on laughter....loved the video.....and your heart...hope your weekend is filled with laughter.

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  13. Oh my, so wonderful a baby's laughter, then the beautiful verse. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

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  14. Laughter truly is medicine to our souls! Thank you for being HIS faithful servant and sharing HIS thoughts through your heart and pen.
    Hugs, prayers, and blessings,
    andrea

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  15. What a great video! Now that was certainly a time to laugh :-)

    Thank you :-)

    ~Ron

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  16. That video just made me laugh out loud -thank you.
    I am coming here to ask you for prayer. My mom is having a double mastectomy this Thursday - March 10. Please pray for peace and comfort and for my mom to know that she is NOT alone...
    Thank you very much..
    Love to you
    Kelly
    I've Become My Mother
    Kelly's Ideas
    Amazing Salvation

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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