No doubt you are familiar with the phrase, “laughter is the best medicine.” There is evidently some truth to that. A recent study “demonstrated that having a chuckle causes the tissue inside the heart to expand – and increases oxygen flow around the body. Patients with coronary artery disease who engaged in a course of laughter therapy had reduced inflammation and better health, the research found.” (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/27/the-best-medicine-study-finds-laughter-is-good-for-heart-health)
The Scriptures alerted us to this thousands of years ago in Proverbs 17:22— “A joyful heart is good medicine.”
However, I’m convinced that there’s a far more potent healing agent available to us than laughter. What I’m referring to is gratitude. While I’m sure that there are physiological benefits to being grateful, the spiritual, mental, and even emotional benefits I suspect are incalculable. Someone has said, “patience wins all” but even patience can be practiced rather begrudgingly so better yet, thanksgiving wins all. Even the most despondent or embittered heart can be completely healed if the medicine of gratitude is applied.
So pause for a moment and ask yourself, how am I doing in living up to this: “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Have I been taking the best available medicine for my heart?
