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And she laughed

Have you laughed today?
IMG_0341-2Did you know?

  • You laugh an average of 17 times a day
  • You’re 30 times more likely to laugh with other people than alone
  • You often laugh not because something is funny, but to affirm, communicate, or express simple joy
  • The New Testament has over 280 references to joy, laughter, etc.

I have silly laughs. Nervous laughs. Sarcastic laughs. Social laughs. Just-trying-to-get-along laughs. Silent laughs. Please-help-me-out laughs. And my favorite: Belly laughs.

I’ve been in trouble for laughing. Growing up, my sisters and I would sometimes hit a never-ending laughing binge at the dinner table, prompting Daddy to order us to stop being so silly (I never understood why).

Sarah laughed
When Sarah laughed about a potential pregnancy at 90
(I would have cried!), she got in trouble, too. “So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” (Genesis 18:12 NIV).

When the Lord called her on it, she denied it, “Um, laughter? No laughing here!” (Genesis 18:15).

But the Lord was gracious to Sarah, and she gave birth to a son, naming him Isaac, meaning “he laughs.” Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6 NIV)

Contagious laughter
On Thursday, I was giving my mom a wheelchair ride, stopping by each painting on the wall to look at the colors and images. She’d occasionally say, “It’s pretty,” and sometimes reach out to finger the texture.

But when I stopped at a window and pointed out the trees, she laughed. I wasn’t sure why. But I laughed, too.

And I realized how odd it sounded to hear her laugh. Had it been that long since I’d heard her laugh? And how good it sounded now.

Laughter comes first
People living with Alzheimer’s typically lose skills in inverse order that they gained them as a baby—it’s called retrogenesis. With babies, laughter comes before talking. So even though my mom is losing her verbal skills, her laughter instinct should stick around awhile.

That makes me smile.

Later that night, I laughed with the ladies at her dinner table. Two were teasing each other mercilessly (in jest, I think), and because they were laughing, I could laugh, too.

I need to laugh more. I don’t need to let circumstances steal my joy.

You, too? As God brings laughter to us, and he will, let’s enjoy it!

* * *

Here’s an opportunity. Who can resist a baby’s laugh? 

11 comments:

Kelee Katillac said...

Laughter is a good medicine!

I am giggling....

love, kelee

Anonymous said...

Such a joyous post! Love it. Happy Spiritual Sunday :)

Virginia said...

I also love to laugh and hear others laugh. My Grandmother used to say that “Laughter is music to God.”
I do thank God for the humor in my life and that things are seldom as bad as they seem.
Laughter is internal jogging. It allows us to laugh at ourselves and what we have done or tried to do. Remember the country song that said, “Want to hear God Laugh? Tell Him your plans.”

I have enjoyed reading your blog.
Laughter & Blesings,
Virginia

Debbie Petras said...

Laughter is good for the heart too. I loved this post Lisa. I only wish I could laugh like that little baby laughed with nothing held back.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

Nikki (Sarah) said...

this is a real feel good post.

Mary said...

Oh yes! Belly laughs are the BEST!

Kaye Swain - SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation said...

Awwwwww - what a little cutie and what a great laugh. And what a sweetly inspirational post about your senior mom. It's so great that you are regularly involved in the group activities for the elderly friends she has there. That's such a blessing to them, to her, and to you. :)

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Sweetie...
Through Miracle Weekend I found your beautiful blog home. I decided to visit each of the Spiritual Sunday participants and you have each blessed me with a gift. Yours the gift of LAUGHTER. I found myself laughing as I read your post. It is just beautiful.

I know all about alzheimers first hand. My sweet MIL had the disease for almost (4) years. It is such a horrible life sentence, but yes she still had laughter in her life. I am so grateful that your sweet Moma finds that in her life too.

Thank you for sharing with me sweet friend. Please stop by Country Wings In Phoenix, my blog. Guideposts magazine is donating a dollar towards our next miracle makeover for each comment left and I want to make enough for several more makeovers. I know they are out there just waiting to be found.

Country hugs sweet friend, Sherry

Daughter of the KING said...

I enjoyed you post this morning. Perhaps your mom found humor is the fact that the best painting around is still from the hands of the Creator as she looked at the beauty through that window...

Blessings,
Linda J

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

Oh my goodness what a precious video. This was a up lifting post today, thank-you.
Blessings,
Ginger

Charlotte said...

Laughter truly is the best medicine. I hadn't really thought about there being so many different kinds of laughs. It is pleasant to be around someone who laughs a lot. There is something contagious about it. A couple of times when I was younger,much younger, I got tickled in church and couldn't keep from laughing. It is so embarrassing.
I can certainly see why Sarah laughed. Her skeptical laughter was turned into joyous laughter though after her baby boy was born.
Both of my parents had severe dementia before they died. I feel for anyone going through it.
Blessings to you and your mother.
Charlotte

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