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King Solomon said it best, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) Simply put, when you are cheerful and full of joy, it brings healing. When you’re depressed, and heartbroken, it saps your strength. I watched episodes of Jerry Seinfeld’s show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Not only have I laughed quite a bit at his interviews, but I was also struck by how much these merrymakers enjoy each other’s company. They said when they enter rooms of strangers, they search for another comic – someone who understands the importance of jocundity. Merriment was so important that Solomon advised it more than once, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” (Prov. 15:13) You can tell when we’re up or down; we wear it on our faces. Like some of you, I grew up in a home where anxiety and joy were opposing forces with the former as the default. So I have to resist being fretful and actually choose gladness daily.
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praise for our heaviness. (Isaiah 61:1-3) Sometimes rebounding requires our participation. Paul instructs us to “Rejoice in the LORD always, and again I say rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4) So, whenever you get down, get up and ‘Joy again!’ We know how to make ourselves miserable, by ruminating on the negative. Did you know that you can make yourself merry? Merrymaking is defined as the process of enjoying yourself with others. Process is a series of action steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. When’s the last time you made merry? Too often we try to handle our woes alone. Have you considered a good dose of merriment…fun, recreation, or amusement with friends or family as a restorative remedy? It’ll do you good!
