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, mainly at ourselves!
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!
My daughter & I laughed at this scene 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
Or in Prayer
© 2019 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved. Photos on Pexels.com
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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!!
I’m glad you enjoyed! Lovely having you drop by! 😀
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!
I’m saddened to hear you can’t enjoy a good belly laugh Trudy. But laughter in the spirit is healing too. 😀
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.
Thank you Brigid, yes laughter is great medicine! 😀
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.
Thank you Kim! How lovely you gave others enjoyment in your laughter. That’s a lovely story 😀
Laughter is so healing! It’s wonderful to have people in our lives who make us happy.
Absolutely! 😀
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!
We are very blessed to have such amazing funny men Karrileea 😀
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/
Thank you Mishka! I am honored & so delighted that you enjoy our times of tea & reflection together! 😀
You’re welcome, I so enjoy the little blogventures 😊🌸
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
Hi Jennifer – I am choosing your post to feature this Friday on Grace & Truth Link-Up. Thank you!
Thank you Maree! I feel truly honored 😀
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!
freaky spider!
i would sprint for TWO Raid cans to annihilate that one!
yipes!
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!
That’s a lovely story Lesley 😀