Harry Denman was a well-known lay Methodist evangelist. He told a story about a woman who visited her pastor one day. She reminded him that her husband had a heart problem. She told him, “A wealthy uncle has just left him five hundred thousand dollars.” She said, “Could you please do me a big favor and tactfully break the news to him?”
So, the pastor visited the heart patient, and they talked about various subjects, including the economy, sports, and the weather.
Finally, the pastor said, “John, let me ask you a question. What would you do if you suddenly had five hundred thousand dollars?” He said, “Well, I would give half of it to the church.” And then the pastor promptly died of a heart attack.
It is good to laugh. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the short-term benefits of laughter include soothing tension and relieving stress.
Some of the long-term benefits include improving our immune system, relieving pain, and improving our mood.
The Cleveland Clinic maintains that laughter increases oxygen to our body and is good for the health of our hearts. They concluded, “No joke, laughter can relieve stress, strengthen your relationships and even do your body good.”
The Bible affirms: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
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