Over the years, our family has become all too familiar with medicine and hospitals, and has been overwhelmingly blessed to know medical professionals who have prescribed the things necessary to heal David’s body. However, when it has come to the healing of our hearts and the uplifting of our spirits, no amount of medicine could do that. It took something that was harder to find and uncharacteristic of our situation; it took laughter to heal the sick parts of us that medicine couldn’t reach.
It became apparent early on that the waiting room of the Burn Intensive Care Unit would not be a somber, quiet place where friends and family gathered. After the first few days of our stay there, conversations increased and laughter was shared as we told stories and remembered past events and fought to dream about a hopeful future. Our community tried its hardest to make life resemble normal as much as possible, and this is something I’m forever grateful for.
We have a photo album of pictures from that season of life, and as I looked through it recently it struck me that there are so many pictures of us smiling and laughing during one of the darkest times in our lives. We have pictures of island events and festivals we took the kids to when they visited the unit in Galveston. We have pictures of family and friends smiling at the camera in the midst of sadness.
At the time, it felt that we were trying really hard to make things seem better than they really were. Now, I remember how much joy we found in little things like taking Nathan to his first movie, or walking along the seawall, or sharing a meal with family and friends, or being surrounded by people in the waiting room. David’s college buddy Rob would send us pages from a daily calendar on the many uses of duct tape. David’s sister Teresa would banter back and forth with Rob over who got the best gift (stickers, a t-shirt) after they donated blood. Rob even claimed once he was given a car!
Even David would get us all laughing. Early on he’d ask for a phone, to which the nurses would say “David, why do you need a phone? Who would you call?” Just as he planned, he’d quickly respond “Ghostbusters!” with a crazy little giggle.
At the time, our community’s commitment to laughter didn’t feel like a huge deal. But standing where we are today, I look back and see that it made all the difference in the world. It helped me heal. It lit up the bleak darkness. It released stress. It brought life. After experiencing some of the healing powers of laughter, and after doing some research, I’ve put together a list of reasons why laughter is the best medicine:
1. Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes later.
2. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving one’s resistance to disease.
3. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
4. Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against cardiovascular problems.
*Information found on HelpGuide.org
I know some of you are reading this, and wondering how you can find laughter when you are currently in the midst of such hardship. I know you might be thinking, “How can you possibly laugh when life is just so hard.” I know this because I have been in your shoes. In fact, some days I step back into those shoes and allow the worries of this life to squeeze the laughter right out of me.
Luke 6:21 says “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” You see, finding joy in hardship doesn’t happen by pretending life is peachy and faking a smile. It happened for me when I fully admitted that our trials were almost unbearable. It happened for me when I surrendered the pretenses of “I’m fine”, and God began to carry those burdens for me.
Hope is why we can laugh in hardship. And laughter makes our burdens just a little lighter.
It is amazing how even in the saddest times something will come up or someone will say something that everyone just bursts out in laughter. We have a story that comes up every time we get together with my sister’s family. The two nephews had a snow day from school so they and their dad went to the gym and played basketball with some others right through lunchtime into the afternoon. When they finally came home, starved to death, they asked what there was to eat. Their Mom went to the deep freeze and brought out a dish of snow balls. Needless to say they got the point and they got their own eats. It’s just a standing joke. Of course we heard it at her funeral and, even about two weeks ago when one of the boys was home visiting. Your family is good at laughing so keep it up!! Love to all of you!!
laughter is good medicine, that’s for sure!
Laughter is truly a gift from God. It completely changes ones perspective on the trials that lie ahead and gives hope. It is almost a cleansing of sorts, is it not?
So many times people’s first reaction to our son who was also burned (but to a far less extent than what your family experienced) is that of pity and sorrow. Until my son starts to speak. Suddenly, smiles and laughter abound and everyone’s hearts are renewed!
I hope you don’t mind me sharing this post about our own experience with laughter. (You may remove it if you wish) It still makes me smile and renews my hope every time I remember it.
http://letuskneel.blogspot.com/2014/04/face-your-flaws-with-joy.html
Blessings to you and may your joy be everlasting!
Thank you so much for sharing. I went to your post and read the story about putting on the ears and it made me giggle! I pray that your son’s joy is still bubbling out of him! That joy can be contagious! We actually spoke to a man once about getting a prosthetic ear for David. Dave decided against it, but we thought it was pretty funny when the guy told us he tested out the adhesive on the ears by gluing ears to his arms and then he rode his motorcycle all around town to make sure the prosthetics wouldn’t fall off. We laughed at the visual picture! I’m not sure where you are located, but have you ever heard of the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors? We volunteer with the organization and they have amazing resources for families and children. They host a conference annually and a few years ago they implemented a program specifically designed for children and family members impacted by a burn injury. This October the conference will be in Indianapolis. Even if you aren’t able to attend the conference, their website contains valuable resources. Check them out at http://www.phoenix-society.org
Thanks again for sharing.