You know the phrase, “Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.”

This is a quote from the 1883 poem “Solitude” by Ella Wheeler.

The message in this is simple: People like to be around happy people — and tend to avoid those who are sad.

Some might take this proverb as justification for avoiding a friend who is hurting.

Why is it hard to be around someone who is weeping?

Perhaps because we don’t want to risk feeling like a failure if we can’t fix another’s problem.

There was a popular song lyric from the late ‘70s that describes the loving person’s attitude:

“I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.

I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.”

There is another phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine.”

It is probably derived from the Bible verse Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

When someone is going through a tough time, yet still maintains a sense of humor some good things happen.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are both short and long-term benefits of laughter:

“When you start to laugh, it doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body.

It can stimulate organs and muscles, enhance oxygen intake, increase endorphins in the brain which reduce stress and pain levels.

Laughter can improve your immune system and make it easier to cope with difficult situations.

It can improve your mood and help you connect with other people.

Why? Go back and read the first sentence!

Laughter makes a person lively and high-spirited, and has the power to heal our bodies physically.”

I don’t think that maintaining a sense of humor means that you have to crack jokes or produce a belly laugh.

I have visited with some senior adults who live in constant pain.

And when I see them still be able to produce a smile, I see hope, joy, inner peace, and confidence.

Next Week: What only a father can do