August 27, 2014
A happy heart is like good medicine. But a broken spirit drains your strength. Proverbs 17:22 (ICB)
“A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life…” Proverbs 14:30 (TLB)
Part Two
Laughter Redeems the Moments…
Several years ago and many hair-doos ago, I clearly remember a summer day when laughter saved and redeemed moments in life and in the relationship with our children. Back in the day, I taught aerobics and absolutely loved my high-top leather aerobic shoes, in various colors…and apparently I enjoyed them so much that I wore them often, even out of class. And, I proudly sported the infamous “Poodle perm” of the eighties! Some really scary thoughts. On this particular summer morning, I was dressed and ready for the day, shorts, shirt, and aerobic shoes…poodle perm intact. Our son and daughter, Adam and Christie, were also dressed for the day and we had gone out to the swimming pool to pick up toys and evidently, one was floating in the pool. I carefully leaned over the edge of the pool to retrieve the toy. As I reached, balancing ever so carefully so that I did not ruin my shoes or my hair, something hit me from behind and I lost my balance and fell hair first into the swimming pool…completely and totally submerged. I wrestled with myself in the water…arms flailing…sputtering and surfacing with the sudden realization that a “precious one” had evidently shoved me from behind, sending me into the sparkling blue water…I was absolutely and intentionally prepared for the confrontation…
However, as I surfaced and cleared the wet poodle perm from my eyes and struggled to tread water, fully clothed and shoed, the two beautiful faces of my children appeared as they stood together, laughing uncontrollably, at the sight of their wet momma! Evidently, our son, who was not known as the prankster, (that typically was Christie’s role), had for some reason, been compelled to shove his unsuspecting mother into the pool…yes, and fully clothed. Now, the good news…my watch was water-proof…and I did not have a cell phone that I carried around everywhere I went …just the mom, the clothes, the shoes, and the poodle perm were drenched. These thoughts ran through my mind as my two really cute kids giggled and said, “Mommy, you look so funny!”…My ‘mad’ that I was rehearsing just gradually subsided, replaced by a chuckle…then by a giggle…and then I joined them in uncontrollable laughter as I imagined what I must look like! I found my way to the steps, dog-paddling with now heavy leather shoes and dragged my drenched self out of the water and the laughter started again…
Laughter Redeems the Moments…
It is very true that we did have a conversation about the incident but not until I had gathered my thoughts and controlled my emotional shock and response at my unsuspecting dilemma in which I found myself on that memorable summer morning. I can assure you that never again were either Bill or I ever shoved into the water…Our children clearly understood that the rules which applied to their friends, not pushing each other into the water under any circumstances, those same rules applied to their parents and to every person…dressed or in swim attire. Final Word…
Laughter Redeems the Moments…
This incident became a very funny moment as I laughed at myself, (by the grace of our God who is SO faithful to every mommy, especially those who are drenched and soggy) and our children laughed and have shared that story through the years….and they were able to still learn the lesson, the rules, and they adhered to those. And…God, very lovingly, very faithfully, very gently, redeemed the moments through laughter…And, I really believe that He chuckled too!
Tears of Laughter
“There is a right time for everything. Everything on earth has its special season…There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance. ” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
Our loving God is faithful to give to His children every tool we need to live this life in abundance, even in the most difficult and the most pain-filled times. And certainly there are appropriate and in-appropriate times for laughter. But, I can recall countless times when even in the direst of times, laughter has served to benefit every person in the midst of challenging moments. When my beautiful mother-in-love came to spend the last weeks of her life with us at the ranch as she suffered from the last stages of pancreatic cancer, I was amazed at how many incredible moments of laughter we had with her. She had the most delightful sense of humor in her healthy years, and she demonstrated the amazing joy that laughter provides in her final weeks …
Laughter was therapy to help the broken hearts of those of us who dearly adored her and were suffering at the thought of saying good-bye.
I have mentioned in the past that laughter helped my mother cope with her debilitating disease…Laughter helped me to cope with my mother’s suffering…when we laughed…it was a reminder that nothing…nothing, can take away the gifts which God has intentionally given to His children, His joy.
Laughter provided abundance in the face of cruel diseases…Laughter felt good…Laughter connected us with our loved ones…Laughter was medicine to our souls…Laughter was therapy…Laughter is a gift…
And our tears which flowed from our laughter…helped to ease the pain…helped to empty the tears which were welling up from our sorrow…from our pain…from the suffering of loved ones…Tears of Laughter…Laughter is a Gift!
“There is a right time for everything. Everything on earth has its special season…There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. There is a time to be sad and a time to dance. ” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4
The Right Time…
There truly is a time for everything…I have learned so many lessons in my life-time…but one thing that I have learned is to be very sensitive to the timing of laughter…to the source of laughter…I certainly have learned to laugh at no other person’s expense. I remember years ago when Christie was five. Bill was traveling and racing and the children and I were home going through our night-time routine. I do not recall the exact event, but Adam and I were laughing at something Christie had done and she was enjoying the “funny”, but, suddenly, something triggered her tears…something changed…something hurt…and it took us by surprise! It upset her so badly that she announced that she was going to run away…And Adam and I immediately responded by apologizing and professing our love, but to no avail. She was determined to run away to her grand-parents home in Granbury. I fortunately was able to talk her into waiting until the morning when the sun was up so that it would be safer…and she agreed that she would wait. That night, with my two precious little ones camping out on my bed-room floor, I begged God to heal her heart and for her to change her mind about the hurt…and, joy did come in the morning to our home. She smiled and looked at us and said, “I decided to give ya’ll another chance. I forgive you!”
Wow, that’s my girl! The spunky, courageous, bold personality was much more sensitive than we had realized…And her tears were the proof…We had all learned a valuable lesson about laughing with someone….and how it differs from laughing at someone…or even giving the wrong impression…It hurts…
Teach Your Children…
There are rules of etiquette for everything…and I’m sure there are rules about laughter. (Or at least there should be):
*Look for opportunities to not take yourself too seriously…so that you can have a good, healthy chuckle at yourself.
*Allow others to enjoy wonderful you by joining you in the chuckle.
*Encourage your children and family members to do the same, to develop a healthy sense of humor, learning to laugh at their own, inevitable, occasional silliness.
*Never, never, never, laugh at someone hurting, from whatever cause…never laugh at their expense…unless, they release you to laugh…Most of the time they take the lead…and you lovingly, gently follow…and then it feels good and right!
*Look for healthy and appropriate sources of laughter…subjects which you are certain that God would find amusing and funny!
*Then enjoy a good belly-laugh!
Teach Your Children!
Yes, did I mention that I love silliness…that I love laughter?
I love to laugh when it is the right thing to do! I love to feel the release of something from deep inside which reminds me that I am not invincible or infallible. In fact, I have provided myself and others with wonderful ‘laughter experiences and opportunities’. And, perhaps you have as well! And, isn’t it fun?
Yes, according to scientific studies, but even more credible, the inerrant truth from God’s Word, confirms that laughter is healing.
Laughter also is healing in relationships…in families, in marriages, in friendships; in business relationships…Laughter just breaks the tension…But laughter at the right time!
Laughter Redeems the Moments…
Today, no matter what you are facing, I pray that you can find some moments of laughter…Perhaps, you are in challenging, heart wrenching circumstances and you need heart-healing laughter…I pray that the Tears of Laughter can fall from your heart and from your eyes…so that you feel healing…so that you feel a heaviness leave your soul…Laughter is healing.
Today, look for the laughter moments and embrace them…In your joy, in your sorrow in your weariness, in your discouragement, in your victories,
Always laugh with those you love…
Laugh and laugh again…
Life’s moments are the sweetest,
When you laugh whenever you can!
Abundant joy, laughter, and healing,
