“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT)
Broken bones may require immobilization or surgery, depending on the severity of the fracture. It takes a great deal of time for broken bones to heal. The pain may disappear long before the bones can handle the stress of normal activity. Prolonged disuse may lead to muscle atrophy. After the prescribed recovery period, physical therapy can promote strength and flexibility.
A broken spirit is much more complicated. There are no visible fractures or diagnostic tests to confirm what is happening. There are no surgeries to fix the problem. The pain resurges unpredictably. It’s hard to know if and when you can return to being a functional human being. Prolonged periods of melancholy can lead to generalized apathy. This can sap a person’s strength and energy.
After taking time for grieving, laughter can be helpful in treating a broken spirit. Sensitivity, timing, and dosage are critical. There is an appropriate time and place for jokes. Cheerfulness cannot be forced from within or without. Things that make one person smile might not have any effect on another person. Finding what animates your spirit and allowing yourself moments of therapeutic laughter can promote emotional healing.
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