I shared this during this morning's devotion. Instead of the usual devotional stuff, I wanted to encourage the students who are taking their exams and make them smile and laugh. If you are stressed, take time to laugh! :)
Feeling hungry, a man walked into a restaurant and ordered a pizza. The waitress brought it to him and asked, “Sir, would you like it cut into six or 12 pieces?”
“Six pieces, please”, he replied, “I don’t think I can eat 12 pieces”
A teacher asked the class to write an essay of 150 words. A student submitted the following:
“My father took me and my family for a drive last Sunday. On the way, a car ran into us from behind. My father was mad. He stepped out of the car and got into an argument with the other driver. They said many things to each other which cannot be written down. If I had, they would make up the rest of the 150 words.”
These quotes are taken from test papers and essays submitted in high school and college on science and health.
- When you breathe, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire.
- H2O is hot water and CO2 is cold water.
- When you smell an odourless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide.
- Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire.
Alright you may be wondering where am I heading this morning with all these humour that I have shared. I have this magnet in my office which says, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer everybody else up”. I understand that all of you are perhaps feeling the stress of exams and I thought it will be good to bring some smiles and some cheer to all of you in the midst of all your exams.
I am sure many of you have heard of the famous phrase “Laughter is the best medicine”. Indeed, it is a good remedy to detress. When we are stressed up, it affects us physically, emotionally and mentally, wearing our immune systems down, and causing us to fall sick easily sometimes. How does one treat something like stress?
Mark Twain, the famous author who wrote the books, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn once said, "The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that's laughter. The moment laughter happens, all our hardness of heart yield, all our irritations and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place."
I find what he said to be very true. When we laugh … laugh as in at an appropriate time and not randomly without reason, it can help drain the stress away. What happens when we laugh? Laughter is like an exercise; that is why we sometimes laugh till our stomach aches. Laughing can lower our blood pressure, increase our blood flow to the heart, and brain and boost the immune system. It gives the diaphragm, abdominal, and facial muscles a complete workout. Some people, depending on how they laugh, may even use their arms, legs, and back muscles when laughing. Laughter also releases endorphins, a kind of chemical into the brain to help us think and react better.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. (Repeat Twice)
When one is cheerful, one tends to be more energetic, focused and positive in the things one does. When one is down and stressed, one becomes negative, feels tired and loses concentration easily.
Exams and studies can be stressful so take time to relax or exercise and have a good laugh with friends whenever you get a break. I enjoy my Tuesday evenings as I get to laugh myself silly with some of the jokes on the local comedies on TV like Calefare, First Class and of course The Noose, not The News but The Noose. Oh no, now you know what kind of programs I watch …
So take time to laugh, encourage and cheer one another up, to relax even in the midst of your exams. Or like me, stay home on Tuesday evenings and catch the jokes on Calefare, First Class and The Noose on Channel 5! Having a good laugh might just help you destress so that you study better.
Prayer:
Let us pray. Dear Lord, thank you for reminding us how important it is to have a cheerful heart, to be able to laugh at things and ourselves. I pray for my friends here that you will grant them wisdom and strength as they sit for their exams. I pray that they will also learn to take time out to destress so that they can relax and enjoy the things in life. Their hearts might be anxious towards their exams so grant them peace in their hearts and minds. In your Name I pray, Amen.
