The Life in Laughter

Proverbs 17:22
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (King James)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (NIV)
"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." (Message)
"A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Amplified)
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength." (New Living)

and then -

1 Timothy 6:6
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." (King James)
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." (NIV)
"A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough." (Message - verses 6 - 8)
"Godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of ^[a]inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain." (Amplified)
"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." (New Living) 


Each of the beautiful ladies in this photo sitting with me is a widow who has buried her husband and many of her children and even grandchildren. They have burdens and pains that are so intense it would be disrespectful for me to share them openly. Some would say, they have many reasons to embrace a 'broken spirit'.

But instead --- oh how they shine --- as they choose the embrace of life, love, laughter and their Lord. Oh how I see GOD'S GOODNESS in their eyes.

They hold in their hands and within their hearts ---- treasure. Treasure that men can not steal and rust will never destroy.

They are beautiful.
My Lord shines beautifully within them.
My Lord shines.
My Lord.

(photo taken in Kenya by my Steve - during a treasured "widows walk")