The Gift of Laughter and Stories for Christmas

We need both. Laughter and stories connect us. We need the good, unfinished and sad stories. Real stuff. When we keep our secrets, build walls for self-preservation, we fail to live fully. For example, in a recent essay by Pope Francis he wrote, "Those who give up their own humanity give up everything, and that when it becomes hard to cry seriously or to laugh passionately, then we really are on the downhill slope. We become anesthetized adults who do nothing good for themselves, nor for society, nor for the church." (from his NYT essay, There is Faith in Humor, 12/17/2024)

Well, there's plenty to cry and worry about. But laughter? Sometimes the pressures, daily demands or dreads, leave laughter stuck on pause. So read on, for a laugh or two. They come via my sister-in-love, Chris Jensen. She texts me daily doses from various sources, including my brother. Everybody needs a Chris at Christmas. I need her all year.

1.Chris sent this to me near the start of Advent, because she knows me too well. "According to my chocolate Advent calendar there are only 4 days left until Christmas."

2. "Nobody is full of more false hope than a Mom who puts items on the stairs for her family to carry up."

3."I tried the Japanese method of decluttering where you hold every object that you own and if it does not bring you joy, you throw it away. So far I have thrown out all of the vegetables, my bra, the electric bill, the scale, a mirror, and my treadmill."

4."The school teacher asked each child to bring in something that represented their religion. A young Jewish girl brought in a menorah. A young Catholic girl brought in a crucifix. The Southern Baptist girl brought a Corning Ware dish." (You know the kind that works best for casseroles.)

5."My neighbor just yelled at her kids so loud that even I brushed my teeth and went to bed."

6."A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbor and says, 'Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started. Her neighbor asks,' What is it supposed to be when it's finished?' The little lady says, 'According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster.'

Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, 'First, of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.' Then he takes her hand and says, 'Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then,' he said with a deep sigh..'Lets put all the Corn Flakes back in the box.' "

7.And finally to honor my friend, Brian, the amazing drummer for Guster, this last laugh. "Mary, exhausted, having just gotten Jesus to sleep, is approached by a young man who thinks to himself: What this girl needs is a drum solo." Rum Pa Pa Pum!

As for the gift of stories at Christmas, they matter. Yours. Mine. Theirs. And most of all the stories of Jesus. And not just at Christmas. My family is known for storytelling. And jokes! Some I can't repeat, and not because I can't remember the punchline. But because I do.

In a recent piece by Margaret Renkl in the NYTimes(12/16/24), she made a case for short novels. She titled her article, "Pocket Novels for an Agitated Age." Renkl wrote, "A short novel seems to me to be the ideal literary form for our tired, distracted but still hungry for a story age."

We are hungry for stories. But what kind of stories? For me, it's a story that gives the gift of hope, joy, perspective, or redemption.I need stories that offer a worthy challenge, healing, provoke thought, offer a belly laugh, or encouragement in some form. So lets hunt some good stories to read or tell during this Advent and Christmas season. Lets be the good news bearers.

Wherever your Bethlehem is, remember Jesus is there. Whatever your greatest fear, remember that God still finds ways to say, "Fear not. You have a Savior, this day, Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11) And whenever you need a great story, read Luke 2 in more than one translation or paraphrase. And then trust Jesus with your story. And those you worry about. It's one of God's gifts to you. Them. Me. And not just at Christmas.

And speaking of gifts. Thanks for your time.

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noel! God Jul!

Jan