Let us laugh
	One of the most valuable and productive traits in godly character is a healthy sense of humor, yet the term "humor" is not found anywhere in the Bible. We could easily consider humor a facet of joy, one of the fruits of God's Holy Spirit. Humor, especially the self-effacing variety, helps us to puncture an inflated ego, allowing ourselves to develop the humility to esteem others above ourselves. Humor is something that makes ‘you' feel ‘more' self-confident, more connected to other people, more relaxed, more part of a group. We can endure pain, stress, or any kind of grim situation a whole lot better with a healthy sense of humor. For a long time medical doctors have known that happy patients generally respond more favorably than do cheerless and complaining ones. The evidence is overwhelming that laughter, confidence, and hope have significant therapeutic value, while sadness, fear, and despondency tend to produce negative outcomes. Dr. William F. Fry of the Stanford Medical School says, "If it were not for laughs, we might be much sicker than we are. Without our realizing it, day to day humor may be making a significant contribution to our physical well-being." Fry merely substantiates one of Solomon's godly inspired proverbs, "All the days of the afflicted are evil [because of anxious thoughts and foreboding], but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]" (Proverbs 15:15). Laurence Peter gives four reasons why humor or laughter produces such therapeutic outcomes: 1. It distracts attention. 2. It reduces tension. 3. It changes expectations. 4. It increases the production of endorphins, the body's own natural pain killers. In The Philistine, Elbert Hubbard wrote, "Pain is deeper than all thought; laughter is higher than all pain." Laughter, indeed, relieves aches and pains brought about by muscle tension. This release of tension proves especially therapeutic for high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. Laughter, by increasing levels of adrenaline, actually promotes greater mental alertness. Dr. Fry suggests that the ability to laugh at ourselves is a key to the restoration of physical health.