Keys to the Kingdom Giggle Boxes
Published 11:13 pm Friday, October 16, 2026
Mrs. Zula Oldham, my third-grade teacher at Stockton, was my dad’s first cousin. She taught for 38 years and was a favorite educator for a multitude of students. I found my best friend and “partner in laughter” in her third grade classroom! Mrs. Oldham called Jonita and I “giggle boxes.” And sixty years later, we’re still living up to our nicknames. Whenever we’re together, we have an uncommon way of finding hysterical humor in ordinary life that a normal person wouldn’t even notice or think was funny.
Some people have a generous helping of humor and I believe everyone should embrace laughter as a gift from God. Laughter uplifts the spirit, strengthens relationships, and causes you to forget the rough day you just experienced. There’s plenty of scientific evidence that laughter is delightful medicine for the soul. “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (Proverbs 17:22 MSG). Let’s do our best to get on with life by playing a duet of optimism and humor. Why not see your glass as half full rather than half empty… and laugh uncontrollably every chance you get!
“We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness. We were left shouting for joy and singing Your praise” (Psalm 126:2 TPT). When things go awry in church they are usually funnier than anywhere else. Generally speaking, we’re to worship God in reverential fear and awe. But when you know you’re not supposed to laugh, it makes it worse when trying
to hold it in. Sometimes you just have to laugh when you’re wired that way. Once, when I was in my teens and the church pianist, Dad was leading the song service and the unexpected happened right in front of everybody. The praise and worship experience erupted in laughter when Dad’s clip-on tie fell off during the singing!
In the Old Testament, Bildad told Job: “God will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21 NLT). Combining humor and faith, Christian author and inspirational speaker, Barbara Johnson says, “Laughter dulls the sharpest pain and flattens out the greatest stress. To share it is to give a gift of health.”
“God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh” (Luke 6:21b NLT). Every follower of Jesus is a learner, student, representative, and ambassador of Christ. And as long as we live in a fallen world we will all experience the sorrows of life, which include mourning the loss of loved ones. Because of the words, “in due time,” I prefer the New Living Translation for this scripture. When the time of weeping has come and gone, God will be faithful to restore our laughter. He can restore anyone because He’s the Master Creator and He loves people more than anything.
“Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all….” (Ecclesiastes 11:8 NASB). You are responsible; you have a part to play for ensuring that you rejoice and enjoy all the days of your life – just like you’re responsible for brushing your teeth. Happiness, joy, contentment, and laughter should permeate throughout your life so that it’s present everywhere like a honeysuckle fragrance, a warm-and-fuzzy feeling, or an upbeat attitude.
The Key: Stop blaming God, your family, your friends, or your circumstances for your lack of laughter. If you have to, learn to laugh — like you learned to ride a bicycle.
______________________________________________________________________________________________Carolyn lived in Stockton from 1963-1976 and has a heart for encouraging others with words and music.
