One of the best things about being in a school community is seeing so much joy! Joy on children’s faces when they get out into the playground, joy when a teacher surprises their class with something, or joy when a student beats another at handball.
There are so many things that happen each day, which are joy-filling moments. One of those this week was on Secondary Assembly. To promote Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, 3 staff and 2 students said yes to playing the game ‘Ice Caps’. Each participate sat in a pool, and one by one chose a bucket. Inside each of the buckets (25 of them) was either a balloon filled with air or a balloon filled with water. Depending on the bucket chosen, would depend if they copped water or just a cool breeze over their heads.
Have you heard the saying ‘laughter is the best medicine’? There is nothing like a good belly laugh. Surely you’ve had one of those moments when you laugh so hard, you cry! Or you’re laughing so hard you can’t even talk! There were many of those moments at assembly this week. Laughter and smiles. Plenty of joy-filling moments!
Did you know that when you laugh, your body releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine. The brain releases these hormones to relieve stress, boost mood and make us feel good. That’s why you feel so good after laughing. Your body chemically changes! I think that’s why King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” He was onto something!
Can I encourage you today to ask your child when a ‘joy-filling moment’ was?
