17 June | Teens

THE JOYFUL HEART

«A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.» Proverbs 17: 22

You won't believe it, but in my time (this is a phrase from someone who is already old), Merthiolate burned and burned a lot! What is it? Remember the feeling of falling down and getting hurt? We used this medicine to help heal the wound. But nowadays, medicine has advanced a lot and the remedies are different. Many don't hurt as much and some even have nice flavors! But there is an even better and healthier “medicine” than these: a joyful heart! Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Having a joyful heart doesn't just mean being happy. It means facing situations, even difficult ones, with a positive attitude. When we are sick or feeling unwell, maintaining a cheerful and optimistic spirit can really help our recovery. Incredible as it may seem, if we don’t feel well physically, but feel good in spirit, it will help us heal faster! It's as if joy is a medicine that helps our body and mind feel better.

Take Action

Practice being joyful! Try to find something positive in every situation today, even when things aren't going so well. It could be something small, like a bird chirping, a sunny day (or even rain!). Share that joy with someone by telling them a little joke or simply smiling. Remember, a joyful heart is a super medicine!