Let Us Laugh.

She is clothed with strength and dignity.  She can laugh at the days to come. - Proverbs 31:25

I grew up in a loving home filled with the melodious sounds of laughter.  I remember laughing hysterically at bedtime when my dad would read to me.  I remember the infectious laugh of my Mamaw when we ate all the chocolate donut holes reserved for Sunday morning on the drive home from the donut shop Saturday night.

In our family,  great laughter will always prevail.  On a trip to Auburn over the weekend, one of my daughter's best friends introduced my sister and me to others by saying, "These are the girls from Texas.  They have the same laugh, and it is greatness."  Several years ago, our family gathered at a popular Mexican restaurant for my dad's birthday.  Of great significance is the fact that a vast majority of our family birthdays occur in the month of August.  Also of great importance is the reality that my dad's special day is at the end of the month.  On this particular celebratory night, we sat at a table with a group of 4 tired boys.  2 of the 4 boys were toddlers.  The events unfolding around that table depicted something from a bad episode of Supernanny.  All control was lost, and we needed an intervention.  I don't remember any of our conversations.  I don't remember eating.  However, I do remember this.  By the end of the meal, the birthday boy was nowhere in sight.  He had escaped to the outdoors and may have been riding a motorized horse when we all walked out.  I have never laughed that hard in my life.  Praise God we had extra quarters for the toddlers to have a turn!

Every Wednesday, I call my momma on the way to Bible study.  Almost every Wednesday, my momma is on a hands-free call when I place my order at the Starbuck's drive thru.  There is something about this simple mundane process that my mom finds hysterical.  At times, she has raised the volume of her voice and tried to place an order.  It throws the barista off every time.  Other times, she succeeds in creating an episode of the giggles where I am laughing so hard I am incapable of placing my own order.  I especially love the unfolding of events at newer Starbucks locations where the barista's precious face now appears on the menu board.  Oh the stories she might tell of the woman in the drive thru laughing out of control for no apparent reason!

Life is hard.  The news of this past week leaves many of us feeling sad and confused.  I don't know about you, but I can feel a cloud of darkness lingering over present day society.  It feels heavy and unshakeable.  However, it is not.  I believe the greatest gift we can offer others are moments when we pause, feel our spirits lighten and laugh.  Laugh when you can.  Laugh always believing you will feel better afterwards.  Laugh celebrating the beautiful reality that where your laughter begins, love will always follow.  Amen.