Today we’re going to enjoy our time together reflecting upon laughter! Years ago when I was new to texting, I couldn’t understand why people were lol-ing on the end of their sentences! So I queried…the answer – it means laugh/laughter.
So for years I thought it meant lots of laughter until one day my youngest daughter said it means laugh out loud Mum! The confusing abbreviated language of texting! I personally like both meanings. 😉
I’m sitting here at my dining table looking out upon my front garden that is showing the early signs of Spring! Yes, it’s the end of Winter here in Australia & my garden is awakening from its slumber!
The azaleas are already in brilliant color, the daisies are blooming & our strawberry plants are yielding huge delicious strawberries! The Nectarine tree is also just blossoming with the heavy scent of star Jasmine in the air. It has warmed in the past week which we are enjoying & so is my garden!
Earlier this week I was sitting out under our Jacaranda tree enjoying the sun with dear hubby, listening to the amazing bird life around us, sipping my favorite Earl Grey & munching upon a chocolate treat of deliciousness.



When hubby said something that caused us both to roar with laughter. Laughter is great medicine…isn’t it!
It takes us out of our serious selves, out of our worries & concerns, stripping us of our inhibitions taking us back to childhood exuberance in the moment…
Where we can see the funny side of things…that tickle the laughter control of our brains releasing an involuntary bubble of joy in the form of a good old fashioned belly laugh or a fit of the giggles, as we call it here in Australia.
Laughter is so amazing as it releases the natural feel good endorphin neurotransmitters in our brains…
A dear friend & I (you met her in Heart matters! ) were given the nicknames of the Giggling Gerties at College, although we actually laughed more then we giggled…at ourselves mostly.
We also had a third member of our laughter chorus, a fellow student who often provided the source of our laughter in his humorous way of seeing the funny side of everyday life.
My hubby is similar, he has always had the ability to make me laugh! Although he does love his ‘Dad’ jokes, which a lot of the time I just don’t get & end up looking at him with a blank look which he just replies to with a “Yep”.
Our respective daughters rarely get his ‘Dad’ jokes too but our son in laws & our grandson’s think they’re hilarious. It’s obviously a boy thing! Lol!
He is also extremely quick witted which leaves this poor old gal with Fibrofog often lost for words! But there are many times, like the other morning when peals of laughter are heard ringing around our home, in fact we laugh so hard at times that our muscles hurt & tears flow!
It was like that, the time I went out to collect the mail from our mailbox & walked straight into a huge Spider’s web with Mrs Spider landing right on top of my head!
We live on the only road in & out of our village…everyone who drove past that morning saw this lady doing a frantic involuntary ‘spider’ dance with legs jumping & arms frantically brushing at her head, trying to get what seemed to be the largest spider in the world, off her head!
Later when I shared this with my eldest daughter she thought it was absolutely hilarious! Envisioning her Mama jumping up & down frantically in full view of everyone passing probably convinced it was the weirdest thing they’d seen in a long time…because they couldn’t see the spider! We laughed so hard our muscles hurt!
Yes, laughter is definitely good for the soul…because it releases joy into our hearts & minds…
“A happy heart is good medicine & a cheerful mind works healing…”
Proverbs 17:22 Refer 2
Did you know that recent researchers concluded that laughter has benefits for chronic pain as the endorphins released are the body’s natural opiates! How interesting!
Can you remember a time when you laughed so hard that it hurt my friend? I would love to hear about it. 😀
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
© 2019 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos on Pexels.com
Blog Link Ups & Featured on Grace & Truth Link Up
Jennifer, I am reminded of my sweet cousin who thought LOL meant lots of love 😂 Thank you for a good laugh as you shared running into miss spider, how often have I done the same. Laughter is a good medicine. My hubby and yours sound alike. We enjoy a good belly laugh.
Blessings and hugs,
Pam
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Oh, I like that Pam Lots of love! It was a funny spider event after the fact lol! 😀 ♥
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Amen for laughter and cheer!
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
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Lovely uplifting post Jennifer! I’m going to make a point of writing down those muscle paining laughter fits as they happen because I just can’t recall the details later! X
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Thank you! That sounds like a good exercise for the gratitude journal Marie 😀
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Jennifer, hi! I truly believe that laughter and tears are kissing cousins … so very close together in our souls, sometimes springing forward almost at the same time.
Just because He designed us that way. I kind of like that freedom.
Bless your weekend, friend …
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Oh Linda, I love that kissing cousins idea! Blessings to you too my friend. 😀
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Laughter is good medicine! When the kids were still at home and even times when they are just here visiting, my favorite thing is hearing them filling the room with their laughter.
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I agree Mandy, there’s something very special in hearing our children & grandchildren laughing & happy 😀
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😂😂😂 most certainly can imagine the scene of the ‘invisible spider’ 🕷 how scary but yet how funny. Yes, laughter is absolutely good for the souls.
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Yes Brenda it was hilarious after the event but crazy in it! Lol! 😀
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I’m glad to read I’m not the only person who makes up her own meanings for texting abbreviations. This one made me lol! 🙂
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Laurie I also thought ‘atm’ meant they were at the automatic teller machine, instead of its meaning ‘at the moment’ lol!
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I had that same wild dance one morning in Mass when a large fly got stuck in my hair. Everyone around me was trying not to laugh. May daughter actually has a nonprofit called Laugh of Hope which she takes into schools and encourages kids to share laughter as a way of reducing their stress.
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Lol! Laughter therapy really helps to relieve stress, I love that your daughter is taking it to children 😀
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I have a tendency to say something and unintentionally make my co-workers laugh. Usually it’s something dumb and I don’t realize what I’m saying. But, it does help lighten the moment! When I used to manage an office it always made me happy to hear my staff outside my office laughing that joyful bonding happy laugh 🙂 Laughter is wonderful!
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How wonderful that you bring laugher to others Lisa! Lovely having you drop by 😀
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Great reminder of the healing power of laughter, Jennifer. 🙂 Grateful for hubby Dan who knows how to make me lol. Have a blessed and beautiful spring…something magic in that word.
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Absolutely Bette! 😀
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Laughter is so important! I have a friend who kept ending her texts with “lol” and I wondered what she was finding so funny until I realised that she thought it meant “lots of love!”
I can’t remember a specific situation right now but there are certain friends that always make me laugh and it is good to spend time with them!
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That’s a lovely story Lesley 😀
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freaky spider!
i would sprint for TWO Raid cans to annihilate that one!
yipes!
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Jennifer – Your story made me giggle. I can only imagine how silly you looked jumping around with a spider on your head. Thank you for sharing.
I love laughter but don’t seem to have enough of it in my life. However, I many times pray for laughter, and God delivers. I admit many times it ends up being something I have done.
Thank you for sharing your posts with Grace & Truth on a regular basis. I love reading them. Maree
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Hi Jennifer – I am choosing your post to feature this Friday on Grace & Truth Link-Up. Thank you!
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Thank you Maree! I feel truly honored 😀
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I think the best kind of laughter comes from being able to laugh at ourselves Maree 😀
It’s a pleasure to join everyone each week!
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What a great post! My son and I joke around a lot, he’s hilarious, someday I hope to be that funny. 🙂
I just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Chronically Hopeful Award. 😊 No pressure to participate, just letting you know I enjoy your blog and find it has a hopeful nature and makes me smile.
https://craftschronicillnessandadulting.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/chronically-hopeful-award/
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Thank you Mishka! I am honored & so delighted that you enjoy our times of tea & reflection together! 😀
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You’re welcome, I so enjoy the little blogventures 😊🌸
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Oh, how I LOVE to laugh! It truly is good medicine! I intentionally look for joy and take opportunity to laugh at something every single day! It’s so good for you! Thankfully, I’m super blessed with My Honey who has made it his goal to crack me up every day for going on 28 years now! Great post, Jennifer! And a great reminder!
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We are very blessed to have such amazing funny men Karrileea 😀
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Laughter is so healing! It’s wonderful to have people in our lives who make us happy.
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Absolutely! 😀
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What a fun post! The last time I laughed uproariously was with my hubby and parents in the Barnes and Noble cafe. Our just-deployed son called and we put him on speaker and listened to his hilarious travel adventures. After the call was over, I apologized for our exuberant laughter to the family sitting near us. They replied, “Oh, it was fun to hear you having such a good time!” (Yay for gracious table neighbors!) Thank you for sharing your fun post.
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Thank you Kim! How lovely you gave others enjoyment in your laughter. That’s a lovely story 😀
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What a joyful and uplifting post Jennifer. You are so lucky to be entering spring as we enter autumn. I had some lovely laughter sessions with my Scottish friends while on holiday. Sadly, they are across the sea but always at the end of a phone. Laughter is indeed great medicine.
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Thank you Brigid, yes laughter is great medicine! 😀
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I love the photo of the spider, Jennifer. I’m different… I love the uniqueness and complexity of God’s creatures, even the creepy ones. 🙂 And the way they spin their webs is fascinating. But like you, I certainly wouldn’t want it on my head! Or in my home! I really wish I could have a good belly laugh, but due to a chronic lung disease, every time I start to laugh, I get a coughing fit. It’s still refreshing though when others do, and I still can bubble with laughter in my spirit. 🙂 Love and blessings to you!
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I’m saddened to hear you can’t enjoy a good belly laugh Trudy. But laughter in the spirit is healing too. 😀
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Loved your post. It sure made me smile. I’m not the only one too who makes up meanings for texting abbreviations and my girls always laugh at me LOL!!
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I’m glad you enjoyed! Lovely having you drop by! 😀
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I’m so glad God created laughter and gives us opportunities to use it so often! My husband often puts a comic spin on things. Just a few times I was hurt because I thought he wasn’t taking something seriously, but most often I appreciate how laughter breaks tension and lightens our spirits.
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I think God has an amazing sense of humor! I came to Him through a clown which I shared in Penang, Pearl of the Orient 😀
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YES! I love a good laugh, especially with family!
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Its such a blessing Michele. 😀
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Laughter and good friends are the only things that keep me going some days. A day without laughter leads to permanent frown lines and a sleepless night. So, LOL, Jennifer … it’s good for the soul!
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I agree Jill, laughter is definitely good for the soul! 😀
Lovely to have you join me a cuppa & a lol time 😀
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It was my pleasure!!!
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Beautiful point Jennifer about the need for laughter in our lives and homes! Found you through the grace and truth link up. THanks for sharing.
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It’s a pleasure! Lovely having you drop by 😀
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Oh, I love to laugh – although sometimes in my case, it turns into a wheeze!
I have to smile at the thought of your jumping around on the lawn – because, of course, passers-by could not see the spider on your head! Kind of reminds me, maybe I don’t know the whole story when I see someone doing something out of character!
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Yes, they probably thought I had a new dance going or had entirely lost my mind lol!
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Laughter is so good for us. Thank God my hubby is the funniest guy around. Its such a blessing to be married to a man that makes me laugh every single day.
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That is an amazing blessing Sylvia! 😀
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And thanks for linking up at the #GatheringofFriendsLinkParty 6. Pinning
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Hi Jennifer. You are so right. I think laughter is downright therapeutic. If you like to read short stories meant to make one laugh that are clean and true, you might enjoy a visit to my story collection, where I write about the funny things that happened to me while growing up. Each story is 2000 words or less, so about a 10 minute read for most and I really enjoy sharing them because reader feedback frequently makes me laugh at the event all over again. Here’s a sample from one of my earliest memories. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but no one died (LOL) https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/the-inner-tube-adventure/
I have about 60 such stories that you are welcome to sample. BTW, I enjoyed the image of you dancing frantically for all the drivers on your road with the spider in your hair. To bad someone didn’t record that gem. You too could have gone viral.
Thanks for sharing this piece and I hope to host your visit to one of my stories soon.
Blessings and lots of laughter
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Yes the spider dance was hilarious after the fact lol! Glad you dropped by Gary.. You’re blog looks great 😀
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I agree. Laughter is good for the soul
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That it is! Lovely having you join me for a cuppa 😀
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Jennifer,
I was drawn to your post because it dealt with laughter. In these uncertain and sobering times, we all need a bit of laughter. I, too, believe it’s good for the soul. I am so thankful for a husband that can make me laugh. I think that is one of the biggest blessings we can give each other in marriage. Loved this reflection on the good medicine of laughter!
Blessings,
Bev xx
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Thank you Bev! I’m always astounded by God’s sense of humor too…aren’t you! 😉
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