The Heart’s Continual Feast

I was introduced to a new, spry resident of the nursing home who wanted to attend my art class. 

“Guess how old she is?” the activities director asked me. Then she turned to the resident. “How old are you?”

“I don’t know,” she said with a wink and smile.

“102!”

“I’m that old?”she asked. “Am I the oldest one here?”

“You’re probably the oldest person in North Carolina,” I said, “Maybe the whole world.”

She laughed and glanced at the model I had passed out for the picture we would draw.

“Oh, I can’t draw!”she said.

“That’s what everyone says,” I told her. “I promise you, you will be able to draw the horse.”

She was 102...what did she have to lose? 

Throughout the class, she chuckled. The people at her table would then begin chuckling, and soon the table next to them would begin chuckling. It was more contagious than swine flu. I was in front of the classroom and by the time the wave of chuckling reached and enveloped me, people in the hallway were passing by and chuckling.

I hurried over to see what the 102-year-old was drawing that was so funny. 

Nothing. She was drawing a very nice horse.

“Do you think people are born with talent to draw?” She asked me, still a little bubbly with mirth.

“Yes,” I said, “But I also think people can be taught to draw. Like you. You are 102 years old. Have you ever drawn a horse in all those years?”

“No.”

“Does your picture look like a horse?”

“Well yes, yes it does! I am kind of surprised.”

More chuckles.

I returned to my easel to continue instructing. Every few minutes, new rounds of chuckling would erupt from the 102 year old lady. It was the most cheerful class I have ever taught. And everyone produced horses that looked like horses.

At the end of the class, I sat down next to the 102-year-old-lady. 

“Now I know the secret of your long life,” I said.

“What is it?”she asked, her face crinkled in merriment.

“Laughter,” I said.

Laughter is good medicine. God thinks so too. The Bible says: A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed (Proverbs 15:13) and in verse 15:  All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

She went on to tell me about her life working with Salvation Army as a pastor. She said the key to her success as a pastor was listening. 

“I don’t believe in ramming anything down anyone’s throat,” she said.

“Well that doesn’t work with the Gospel anyway,” I offered, “God has to change someone’s heart.”

She gazed at her picture. “Some people are born with a talent to draw,” she said.

“And you were born with a talent to share the Gospel...and to laugh. That sounds like the better talent,” I said.

She chuckled again. “Yes.”

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Psalm 100:2 

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!