Bring in the new year with some Giggle & Gab!

The nature of life in a fallen world is stress. The ongoing pandemic is reason enough for restless nights…then add challenging family dynamics, money concerns, job uncertainties…and can all be too much some days. And peace is only found in remembering that God isn’t overwhelmed by any of it. In fact, two thousand years ago, He sent the following warning, using words that could have been ripped from today’s headlines.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 

2 Timothy 3:1-5

So what are we to do? Curl up in a ball, consumed by fear? It’s tempting, but God’s children are called to find peace in Jesus regardless of our circumstances. In John 14:27, Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled or afraid because he gives us the sort of peace that defies the stress of the world.

Easier said than done! But if he tells us to have peace, then it’s possible to have peace. It may not be easy…but it’s possible. And one of the greatest stress relievers is one that God created: laughter! Laughter and conversation. One of the best ways to experience physical healing, emotional relief, and peace – is to connect and laugh with people we love.

5 Reasons to Giggle

Connecting with family and friends in conversation builds feelings of safety and security – a sense of belonging and feeling that we are cared for by others – and our conversations become even more productive when they involve laughter. The Mayo Clinic reports that we experience relief from stress when we laugh and that laughter actually causes positive physical change in our bodies. To reinforce these points, here’s a quick summary of the research:

According to Mayo Clinic, when we laugh…

1. Our hearts, lungs, muscles, and brains become healthier.
2. Our circulation is improved and our muscles relax; both of which give us relief from the physical symptoms of stress.
3. Our immune system is healthier. Negative thinking decreases immunity, but positive thoughts and laughter release chemicals in our brain that fight stress and illness.
4. We experience personal satisfaction and feel more empowered to deal with difficult circumstances.
5. We feel happier because depression and anxiety are lessened and our body produces natural painkillers!

5 Reasons to Gab

According to Focus on the Family, and FirstCry Parenting, when we engage in conversation…

1. It increases our sense of identity, making us feel loved, accepted, and part of something important.
2. We learn how to express ourselves clearly and communicate our feelings more effectively.
3. It increases our social IQ which leads to more satisfying relationships.
4. It grows communication skills that are highly desired by employers.
5. We learn new information, new vocabulary, and new ways to deal with our problems.

So warm up those vocal chords and find your smiles…we’ve got work to do!

With so many proven benefits of laughter and conversation, why wouldn’t we want to plan some intentional time to giggle and gab with our grandkids? To get us started, print these free Giggle & Gab Cards with 68 cut-apart cards. Cards include ‘would you rather’ questions as well as questions about feelings, favorites, Bible characters, and many others that encourage honest discussion. My favorite are the Giggle Challenge cards! These cards include silly story starters, short tongue twisters, ABC challenges, and laugh-worthy stunts. There is also a blank page for creating your own cards.

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