Lent Day 17 - Be Light-hearted

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

At my primary school, the headmaster could be found at the end of a long, creaky corridor, in a room full of smoke. From what I remember, he rarely left this office. Considering his aloofness, my headmaster did have a profound impact on my life, purely by giving his pupils a motto to live by: ‘If in doubt whether to laugh or cry, laugh every time.’

Since I am always close to both laughter and tears, this motto has helped tip the balance when I’m not sure which way to go! I’ve found it’s been helpful to learn to laugh at myself. Sharing embarrassing stories can help to break the ice. Go out, see friends and bring life to someone else’s broken spirit. Choose to laugh, choose to be cheerful.

Just as with exercise, we may not always ‘feel like it’ but it is restorative and preventative medicine – take every opportunity for cheerfulness you can. Joy or grief of the mind impacts the strength of the body: the niv version says ‘a crushed spirit dries up the bones.’ So don’t pull out of that party at the last minute! It might be the shot of calcium and vitamin D that your body is crying out for.

Taken from Be by Fiona Castle and Friends

A 365 devotional that encourages women to live all out for Jesus in the midst of their busy lives.

Jesus gave us the greatest love of all. We are called not just to keep it to ourselves, but to overflow with that love to others. But how can we really do that in the busyness of our lives?

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Pray

Help me see the value of laughter and joy and share this with others.