Laughter has its place in every wholesome, healthy, holy life. The man who never smiles — is morbid! He has lost the joy chords out of his life.... He has accustomed himself so long to sadness — that the muscles of his face have become set in hard, fixed lines — and cannot relax themselves. His thoughts of life are gloomy — and the gloom has entered his soul and darkened his eyes! Where there is no laughter — all evils nest. Demons do not laugh! The man who never laughs, must not blame his fellows if they think there is something wrong with his life, something dark within.  ~ J. R. Miller

This morning my bride and I watched our six year old son recite his lines in his first grade chapel service. Oh, how we smiled with pride and joy and thankfulness! Walking with our children and a good friend along the bluffs overlooking the shoreline, we breathed deeply the salty air and smiled with wonder at all God had made. The Bible says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22) and "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) It's not spiritual to have a long face. It's very odd to me that so many religious people never smile. If ever a people had reasons to rejoice, it's Christians! I do picture Jesus smiling, laughing, and rejoicing with his friends and family. To be sure, there is much to be sober-minded about, in light of eternity, but to limit your smiles is to quench the Holy Spirit who produces joy in the heart of those who are His! A wise man once said, "You can never be a better parent than you are a smiler! If the joy of the Lord is your strength, then the joy of the parent is the child's strength." Gloom and doom is for the demons. Seize the day! Smile. Rejoice in the fact that your name is written in Heaven and that the Lord is for you.  ~ Kirk