Laughing Like a Little Child

In his charming book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, Sean Covey said that laughing:

• loosens up the mental gears and helps us to think more creatively
• helps us cope with the difficulties of life
• reduces stress levels
• relaxes us as it lowers our heart rate and blood pressure
• connects us with others and counteracts feelings of alienation, a major factor in depression and suicide
• releases endorphins, the brain's natural painkillers

So it's good I laughed when I remembered something comic or when someone said something funny. Let me tell you of two instances. Only two.

One Saturday afternoon in 2007, I was in a choir practice at All Saints' Cathedral Nairobi when I remembered a friend of mine called Gathigi dozing as we listened to classical music in the '90s. Remembering that made me laugh, and I am sure some choristers wondered why I was doing so.

Then when I was teaching piano at Rose of Sharon Academy in 2015, I saw a teacher with a basic feature phone we call 'mulika mwizi' (shine light on a thief) here in Kenya. When I teased him for using a 'mulika mwizi', he shot back, "No, this is a 'mulika magaidi' (shine light on terrorists)!"

Of course the teacher wanted to create the impression that his phone was advanced, and the way he said it sounded so hilarious that I burst out laughing. Sadly, it has been a while since I last had such a good laugh due to some problems we have been having here at home.

Today, I have prayed that I may laugh like a child again. Why a child? Because I have heard it said that children are often happy, even without a reason. And why shouldn't I laugh like one? Am I not a child of God?

********************
RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story, you might also enjoy another one on "Developing a Sense of Humor".