"Laughter through tears is one of my favorite emotions"---Truvy, "Steel Magnolias"
When I woke up this morning my sides were sore and I couldn't figure out why. Then I remembered...
Our women's small group met last night and although we are serious about our studies, last night began with laughter and joy. Not just giggles, but side-splitting laughter! In between we had some serious issues and heart felt times, but we ended with more of that deep, cleansing, belly-laughter over some of the silliest things. What a God-given gift we have in laughter!
A couple of years ago, my friend Tracey and I were coming back from an afternoon break for a little ice cream, we boarded the church elevator and were heading back to our offices, hit the button..and nothing. No bump, no whirr, no lift that moves your tummy a little, nothing.... We looked at each other, hit the "door open" button and NOTHING! We looked at each other with our melting ice cream, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, called the church office 25 feet away and told them we were stuck. Then, the best thing happened, we looked at each other and began to laugh. At first it was a giggle, then a laugh, then the tears started running, and we couldn't stop laughing. We were safe, the fire department was a block away, we were on the first floor and there were maybe 10 or 15 feet below us. I am a little claustrophobic, but not that day. For the next 30 minutes, we laughed about the good stories we would have for our families, the nice break we were having, and other than the need for the facilities it wasn't too terrible...after all, I never heard of anybody being stuck in an elevator for days on end, we knew the fireman and had great confidence in their abilities. When we were sprung form our cocoon by our able firemen, we walked out to all of the concerned faces, then one of the firemen said, "You two sure were cuttin' up in there", and then we laughed even harder. I am so grateful to our God for the joy of that memory. It could have been terrible if we had not embraced the moment and chosen joy over fear.
Last night was another one of those times. We were bathed in God's most precious gift of laughter, joy, and the assurance that even though each of us are facing different and tough issues in our lives, He gives us the deep abiding joy in Him that enables us to laugh, smile and know that He smiles when His children are joyful!
How many times in our lives has God rescued a painful moment with laughter? Given us a memory that makes us laugh just thinking about it? My friend Debbie and I can't even say the words 'super glue" without laughing uncontrollably (..miss you girl!) God gave us laughter at one of the most horrifically difficult times! Snapshots of unspeakable joy!
---Feel His joy in your laughter today!
"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy".--Job 8:21
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