Have you ever come across someone throughout the day who made you laugh? I mean a big laugh, one that even after some time had passed, thinking of it, you still get cracked up. You know laughter is medicine to the soul. But, worrying about things only leads to unhealthy issues.

With the economy as it is today, nothing but negative comes our way. If it’s not financial problems, it’s sickness. If it’s not sickness, it’s a family problem; if it’s not family, it’s our job status. If it’s not — oh well, I could go on and on, but I won’t.

Just thinking about all the negatives brings me to an all-time low. Right now, I’m feeling a tightening in my chest and my heart is trying to ache, but I won’t let it.

I cannot dwell in that place. It’s like going into a dark room with no source of light. There is a message in the Bible that tells us that a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bone.

What it tells us is that if we keep our minds on pleasant or happy things, it’s like medicine that will heal us, but on the other hand, if we don’t focus on happy things, our spirit will become broken and cause our bones to dry up. Dry up? No, no, no.

Let’s get it straight; there you go thinking in a panic. What it is saying is that being in an unhappy state of mind will lead you to worrying about things which then could lead to other things such as being in a state of depression. Depression then may lead to a health issue, which then could lead to more serious effects, even death and at that point, tell me, how dry are your bones?

In the Word of God, bones signify or represent life or your skeletal makeup. And if the bones are dried, that means they are dead or worthless.

Have you ever seen dried bones, especially if you have a dog, in your yard? The bones look as though they have become as a fossil, even the dog no longer gnaws or play with them.

And then again, have you ever heard older people saying “worrying will kill” you. It’s true. So in reality, your state of mind can govern your health. Yes, I truly believe that.

But you might say how can I control my feeling, especially when I have lost a loved one or lost my job? How can I be happy about that? How can I be happy when the doctor tells me I have cancer or some other form of illness that may take my life away?

What’s to be happy about that? Well, first of all, you are not dead. A minute ago you were fine. Now, since the bad news, you are about to lose control. Stop.

Now, what did you just read? OK, I know you have a lot on your mind, so go back and read the words that were previously written.

OK, so now that you have reread it, let it marinate or soak in your brain. Now that you have let it marinade, think. Before, you heard the bad news, your world was normal; now it’s abnormal. Now is not the time to lose it.

Now is not the time to go into a state of depression. Depression only makes the matter worse. Depression is a broken spirit and a broken spirit will only cause the negatives to surface and resurface.

Under the circumstances, it will be difficult to think on happy things, but you must train your thoughts on positives. Say to yourself, “I may have lost a loved one, but I will never forget their presence and spot in the family. I may have lost a job, but there’s got to be another one out there for me. I am a go-getter, job, here I come. I may have cancer, but the survival rate today is remarkable. I’m going to seek help for myself and live no matter what it takes.”

The mind is a powerful tool. It can be used for you or against you. You can think the positives and live or you can think the negatives and die in any given circumstance. Death can be mental or physical. Worry has never gotten a person anywhere but worse off than they were at first.

So, it’s your choice in any matter. Be happy, don’t worry.

Beverly Gibson is a Ferriday resident.