Look at lighter side of life, even when you're down

"He who has a glad heart has a continual feast (regardless of his circumstances)"

-Proverbs 15:15 (AMP)

Springtime is almost past, and summer is on the way. This time of year, I like to lighten up a little and look at the bright side.

How about you? Have you had a good laugh today? Maybe your heart is heavy over some circumstance that doesn't make you feel like laughing. There are times I struggle with that too. That's why, years ago, I asked God, "Teach me to laugh."

Laughter is produced from a heart that is overflowing with joy. Oftentimes, we feel like there is no joy within us. Proverbs 15:15 reveals that God placed joy in every believer (my paraphrase), but it's up to us to cultivate it. How do we do that?

Norman Cousins was diagnosed with cancer. When he was given a grim report, he decided to fill the rest of his days with laughter. He spent his days watching funny movies, and an amazing thing happened: he laughed his way to health!

I'm not saying we will all have that same exact result if we do that, but there is a principle about laughter. In ancient times, men of war use to stop up the wells of their enemies by filling them with rocks and dirt so no water could flow through them. When Abraham's enemy, the Philistines, blocked up his well, God used Isaac - whose name means laughter - to open his well back up.

When the wells of our hearts are filled with sorrow, depression, and pain, it blocks our laughter, which is one way to take charge of our hearts and fill it with cheer.

Laughter knows no age limits. When I was a girl, I spent the summer enjoying movies, joke books, and fun times with family and friends playing games or just hanging out. When I became an adult I learned to enjoy work. Whether the daily grind at the hospital, cleaning the house, or working in the yard, I discovered it could be an occasion to allow my heart to be merry.

For a music lover, cranking up the tunes can help you whistle while you work.

As we learn to use the gift of laughter, staying mindful of following biblical guidelines for no "obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking," as mentioned in Ephesians 5:4, we can make our joy a time of pure fun.

Making another person the brunt of jokes, spewing crude remarks, or spouting obscenities are not considered laughing matters to God.

Although laughter is good, it's not realistic that we should laugh about everything, but a good chuckle can add balance to our daily routines.

Being joyful in life's journey doesn't mean the absence of problems; rather, practicing God's principles in the presence of them.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.