We have been looking at laughing and smiling this week as well as at this verse:
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Here is the first thing I want to stress: Do not take yourself too seriously, but take God very seriously! Laugh at yourself – I have done so many silly things to laugh at through the years – I can either laugh at myself or be depressed and being depressed is not an option. Never take yourself too serious because it really is a silly to do so and people will be pushed away by it.
Ask yourself this: would you want to be your friend? Are you someone that others want to be around? Many people take themselves too seriously and honestly are no fun to be around.
God is serious business but he is a God who laughs. What is your picture of God? Is he some Old guy up in heaven with rolled up newspaper waiting to slap you like a fly when you get out of line or is he a God who laughs, loves, and wants the same for his people? Do not misunderstand – God is Holy, Righteous and Just and also a God of Joy or enjoyment.
Something else in this whole discussion is too find enjoyment in life and do it N.O.W. (No Opportunity Wasted). You’re never too old or too young to live life to the fullest. You will get excuses from people all the time why they do not do things. Let me tell you about a nun. Sister Madonna Buder is an example of a woman who is not too old to live life. What does Sister Madonna do that makes her so special? She is competing in triathlons at age 79 and is signed up to run one this year at age 80. She began running about the age of 50 and worked her way up to running and finishing the Boston Marathon. She wanted more of a challenge and read in the newspaper about triathlons. She overcame some broken bones in the 1980’s while training to run the ironman triathlon in Hawaii. She would compete in the 60 plus category in the 1990’s and in 1992 she had her best finish which included her stopping to help a dehydrated participant till help came and still finish with a record breaking time. We never have an excuse to not do things because of age! We can live and enjoy life.
Here is another thing to do and that is put off putting off and start acting. People put things off and put things off to the point that they never get anything accomplished. You need to have goals. You need to be aiming for something. If you aim at nothing you will always hit it. NO OPPORTUNITY WASTED you should not waste what God has given you.
God gives you opportunities – take them! Everyday we are given opportunities in life. We have a choice – we can take the opportunity or let it pass us by. People with a positive outlook grab these opportunities and do something with them. God has given them to you and now you need to do something with them. God has given us a life to live, so live is what we should be doing!
We need to be enjoying our lives, taking opportunities, laughing and smiling!
What is one way you will enjoy yourself today?
Great thoughts today Jim. I love life and laugh a lot. I believe God does also. Recently, one of my best friends had radical surgery (as you know). While waiting for it to be over, his wife was talking about how jim has been wanting to get a Harley and she kept saying, “Wait.” she looked at me and said, “I am wondering Why? Why wait?” Jim may be getting his Harley sooner than he thought. Goes along with your #4 & #5 thoughts.
I too love to laugh a lot too. The Harley and Jim are good examples of stop putting off and start acting. Thanks Bill for sharing.
I’m a laugher. And a procrastinator. Trust me, procrastinating just makes everyone upset.
So what you are saying is that no one is laughing at your procrastination?
I get the sense from getting to know you that you are a laugher and I think it is one of the reasons I enjoy your friendship.
Thanks Michael for adding in.
I ask people all the time as say, “would you want to be your friend?” I think that Q is so powerful. It directly determines your effectiveness in so many areas. People love, follow, serve and protect their friends!
Love it!
It is a question I too ask people a lot. It is funny how people react when you ask them the question because there is the knee jerk yes and then the reflective thinking that follows.
Thanks Artie!
Good advice today, Jim. “put off putting off and start acting” — that hits home with me…. pretty much most days.
It is what God says to me many times and so I have to share it. Thanks for adding to the conversation Dustin.
I make it a point to find something funny or say something funny (that’s up for debate) every day. I enjoy life by laughing. One of my favorite things in the world is to make someone else laugh. That makes my heart happy!
I too love to make people laugh Tony. Thanks for sharing today!
I too love to make people laugh Tony. Thanks for sharing today!
I’m laughing at some of the things I do for work… otherwise I would be crying.