Laughter in the Midst of Life's Muddles. A Note From Jan.
Sundays. I love this day of the week. Untangled, restful kind of day, unlike when I was a preacher’s kid. Today launched a new week and month. March, when Spring’s supposed to show up. It’s apt to show up scared stiff this year. Lord have mercy.
Patrick preached on our father Abraham, who “did not weaken in his faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead.” Now THAT preached to me. But what especially spoke to Kristina and me as we talked over brunch was this truth — God can make something out of nothing and even grow life out of death. Sarah and Abraham were OLD when God promised Abraham he was to be “the father of MANY nations.”
Patrick underscored the message by singing, “Father Abraham had many sons and many sons had Father Abraham,” complete with all the motions that go along with it. Right hand, left hand, right foot, turn around … . Our response was to laugh, which he said is what happens when kids sing it. Then he reminded us that Abraham and Sarah’s promised son received the name of Isaac, which in Hebrew means, “he laughs.”
The lyrics end with, “So let’s all praise the Lord.” Which we did.
By now, you know I’m no scholar. But I am a mom and grandmother, and I remember my response to the first time I heard Heather laugh out loud. I cried. Jud smiled. Then we both laughed with her as she continued to giggle. JOY! Pure joy! This little baby, our first, looked up at us and laughed. Well, she’s always been more discerning than most. Maybe it was the first time she took a hard look at her parents, and the only way she could handle it was to laugh.
Today’s message shoveled—a word we’re not too fond of around here—a promise into me, being that I’m OLD, or at least OLDer. Not a promise to become “a mother of many nations.” That IS impossible.
But the truth—the promise—that God can take my nothingness, my nothing kinda days and make something out of them, out of me. That’s worth getting out of bed, bundling up, shoveling out or whatever’s necessary to get to church. To gather with some more of Abraham’s kids, stand up, turn around, raise hands, clap and sometimes even laugh. Laugh as we look at each other and especially at ourselves and the impossible situations we face. “Good as dead” circumstances until God shows up and proclaims, “Nothing is impossible with me.”
Feels good to stand up, turn around and laugh. Nudges me to set aside all the books and pamphlets I’ve been getting on grieving and how to do it properly. Bring on the New Yorker cartoons. Prepare for Garrison Keillor, Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck or other humorists and essayists.
On to a fresh stack of books…just for the fun of it. Just started reading a used book I picked up entitled: BEING DEAD IS NO EXCUSE, the official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral. It comes with recipes.
Don’t forget, I spent formative years in Georgia and North Carolina. I still speak Southern, especially when I’m tired, as in “tard.”
Isaac’s not the only one. I laugh. We laugh. Sometimes we laugh by faith in the middle of the muddles of some of life’s impossibles. Even better…God laughs. Not at us…well, not at most of us….but with us. JOY. Pure joy at watching and hearing his children laugh, I imagine. Laughter anchored in trust and faith in the God who can make something out of nothing, even bring life out of death. So…stand up, turn around, clap and “let’s all praise the Lord!” Why not?!
18 Comments
Thank you for this Jan, I needed it today! I will include it in my "third testament" collection.....
Well said, Mamajan!! Hugs and much love
Ah Yes! Yes! Yes! But, I have 5 decades to recall that you
have been my laughing friend--practiced so well for the living of these days! And as long as you live, you will keep practicing and showing how healing laughter is!
Love it!!!! You bless me! I laughed too!
Ah dear Jan, another wonderful post and reminder to laugh in our "good as dead" time. Today is a new, full of sunshine Santa Barbara day, and we are rested (with the help of a sleeper) after two days at the Cancer Center, motionless time in tubes, new meds, and mixed test results had left us bone weary last night. Today we feel renewed to "soldier on" and your words this morning serve as our encouragement and for that we are grateful, again and again. What a gift you give all of us as we await our Lord's resurrection and our own. We love you. Jan, Helene and Dave
Thanks Jan. We do need to choose joy and your choice to do this makes it easier for the rest of us. I hope there will be laughter at my funeral - I plan to include a few one-liners in my memorial service to get it started. Love, Dale
Thank you for your example of choosing joy, and sharing joy! <3
Amen, Jan. And you're good at laughter even in the midst of hard stuff. The Scripture says that laughter is good medicine for all of us. Thanks for the reminder. As another of Abraham's older kids, we've learned to laugh at ourselves and some of our circumstances that could be better too. It makes life richer. And God is the God of the impossible that He's proved over and over . . . keep your joyful spirit. Sending lots of love from Asia.
Love it ... LOL ! <3
To bring a smile to someone's face is a joy, to make him or her laugh is a gift from God. He certainly has given you that gift. Tom and I saw a priest in Hawaii do the hula to the Lord's Prayer. Oh my it was beautiful and we laughed and cried. Sometimes that feels like the same thing. Sending our love to you Jan.
Why not indeed! Tina Faye kept me going while healing from my broken shoulder. Jus sayin..
We are glad you can still laugh, Jan. That's one of the very positive things we remember about you!
And thanks for preparing us for attending your church on the 15th. Now we know what to expect -- or do we?!
Love, David and Joyce
Jan, You are beyond wonderful. I have shared this post with my dear (Episc) pastor here in Boone ...not the first she's had from you. It's headed to my beloved Ellie in Maine, recently widowed. You have no idea of the ripples, on on and beyond, set in motion by JudnJan...gently rocking our wearied world. Here at home = my newly squared shoulders, and a deeply smiling (yes, laughaloud) heart. They thank you, dear Jan!
I have always loved Sundays especially with four kids as a time to slow down and "faith" the week ahead. I know you will "faith" the week, month, year ahead, dear Jan, because of your net, your friends, your family and your faithful God.
Why not indeed! Tina Faye kept me going while healing from my broken shoulder. Jus sayin..
We are glad you can still laugh, Jan. That's one of the very positive things we remember about you!
And thanks for preparing us for attending your church on the 15th. Now we know what to expect -- or do we?!
Love, David and Joyce
Jan, You are beyond wonderful. I have shared this post with my dear (Episc) pastor here in Boone ...not the first she's had from you. It's headed to my beloved Ellie in Maine, recently widowed. You have no idea of the ripples, on on and beyond, set in motion by JudnJan...gently rocking our wearied world. Here at home = my newly squared shoulders, and a deeply smiling (yes, laughaloud) heart. They thank you, dear Jan!
I have always loved Sundays especially with four kids as a time to slow down and "faith" the week ahead. I know you will "faith" the week, month, year ahead, dear Jan, because of your net, your friends, your family and your faithful God.