Laughter

After my previous post on death, I decided that my brain needed to be parked on a happier subject. Is there anything happier than laughter? I love to laugh. Do you enjoy laughing? I mean the kind of laughing that makes your sides ache and tears pour from your eyes.  When was the last time you laughed like that?  

We laugh a lot at our house. I think part of the reason is because I am incredibly klutzy and I have two children who take after me. As the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. One of us is always stumbling our way into a funny predicament that "forces" the remainder of the family to burst out in laughter.

What makes me laugh the most, though, are my kids. One of the reasons for this is that they never stop talking. And when I say "never," I really mean NEVER! So, naturally, a lot of really funny stuff comes out of their mouths.  My little man, Rex, recently told me that he really prefers friends who are introverts. That way, they don't get in the way of his talking!

Unfortunately, there are times that I just don't feel like laughing. My kids are the same, especially when they have just gotten in trouble. They are mad and they want to stay mad. It is at those times that I usually try to do something to make them laugh. Nothing can get one over being mad any quicker than a good laugh.

However, I completely understand that there are times when one just doesn't want to laugh. You truly need to wallow in your misery. So, I want to help you out. I have a list of things that you definitely should NOT do if you want to stay in that state of misery.

1.  You should not allow your 13-year old who, by the way, has absolutely no athletic ability whatsoever, to attempt to throw a skirt over a ten-foot partition from one dressing room to another while shopping. After said skirt gets stuck on top of the ten-foot partition, you definitely should not let your 4' 9" ten-year old try to retrieve said skirt by jumping and trying to grab it. Just walk away, walk away. Otherwise, unplanned laughter may erupt.

2.  After telling your 13-year old that you cannot get the roof of your mouth to stop itching, you should not let her convince you that scratching your ear will make it stop. It does not. After you tell that 13-year old that it doesn't work, you most definitely should not let her convince you that it is not working because you are not doing it correctly and allow her to attempt to scratch your ear for you. This will put you at high risk for unplanned laughter.

3.  You should never under any circumstances stick your head under the top bunk of your child's bed to kiss your child good night and allow your child, who is now stronger than you are, to grab you around your neck and "zerbert" you instead of kissing you. You will not be able to get free to stop the craziness and laughter will completely consume you. Your husband will fail to offer any help so do not plan on him rescuing you. Therefore, the laughter will go on for several minutes, your sides will most definitely hurt and tears will pour from your eyes.

4.  If you are extremely ticklish, you should not allow your ten-year to tickle you. Laughter will pursue and your sides will hurt.  (My husband can attest to this one.)

Honestly, it may be a whole lot easier to go ahead and give in and have a good laugh.

May the laughter in your life remind you of the great JOY within your soul.

Tami

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.  Job 8:21