I was taking a walk through town the other day and passed in front of a little restaurant. Sitting outside on the bench were three sweet little ladies. Each had evidence they had enjoyed many years of life. Silver hair. Glasses. Skin that was a little more elastic and wrinkled than mine. Each had a cane either resting on her lap or held at her knee.
I felt a twinge of sadness come over me as I approached these little ladies thinking of how it must be so hard to have to use a cane to assist in walking all the time. I feel my body aging each morning as I climb out of bed – a little slower than a few years ago. I can’t remember a day in the last few years that I didn’t have an ache or pain of some kind in my back or hip. But I am healthy and I can walk unassisted and go and do as I please. I just felt sad for these three.
But as I approached them, my sadness turned into pure joy, and I had a smile on my face that wouldn’t leave. They were laughing the most joyous laugh! They were talking and sharing some kind of a story and as heads bobbed together in laughter, this joy filled the air. They were having a great time!
I imagined they were best friends from elementary school. I imagined they had shared birthday parties, proms and graduation together. I imagined they had been in each others’ weddings and mentors in the lives of each other’s children. I imagined they had sat together crying through struggles, hurts and even deaths over the many years of friendship. I imagined they had vacationed together and shared girls’ nights out and coffee on Friday mornings.
I don’t know if any of my imaginations are right but what I do know is that the scene on that bench made a lasting impression in my mind that causes me to smile even as I write today.
Proverbs 17:22 says “A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
I believe those ladies have stayed young in spirit even though their physical bodies were failing because they had laughed a lot! Who knows if my imaginary story has any truth to it but who cares. All I know is that I saw three sweet little ladies sharing laughter and it brought joy to my soul. I encourage you to find someone to laugh with today and feel your soul spark with joy again and again!
