Laughter Lines

One of the good things about visiting the office of a medical doctor is seeing what is on the walls. Often times it is pictures or shadow boxes of medical instruments or practices of long-ago. That’s what I saw this week – a picture of an old-time method of facial care. It was an instrument to be used on the face with the following instructions: “Pat across the corner of the mouth, across the laughter lines toward each ear.” Laughter lines? As soon as I got home I starting to research what was a heretofore unknown term to me. I discovered I knew the condition better as “Crow’s Feet” – the tiny wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes resulting from age, sometimes called laughter lines. Further I learned that new research shows they don’t just make you look old, but the wrinkles make you look angry as well. Then I discovered a song entitled “Laughter Lines” with the following lyrics: “I’ll see you in the future when we’re older and we are full of stories to be told. Cross my heart and hope to die, I’ll see you with your laughter lines.” As I age, I want my laughter lines to represent happiness, not anger. When God’s people returned to Zion from captivity they sang: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations . . . the Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad” (Psalm 126:2-3). The Lord has done “great things” for me also, and I am glad. So let my laughter lines show joy.

Join me this week in praying for the following global requests:
• Pray for the Advocate Experience & Vision Tour being held in Vancouver, Canada this week.
• Pray for S and other children who are spending their first Valentine’s Day a long way from home and grandparents, and for the parents who will explain to friends Who is the real source of love.
• Pray for April who will be recuperating from surgery on Saturday, February 8 in the Czech Republic.
• Pray for Ken and Kathy and their “restart” groups in Sydney, Australia).