March 20 Laugh a Little….. Job 8:21
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” (Job 8:21)
Some of the best memories of my early years were sitting around the supper table and laughing with my parents. Daddy had a “dry and sharp wit,” and Mama was smart, yet gullible and witnessing the banter between them was always colorful and entertaining. Amazingly, without fail, I always felt better after supper, regardless of what we ate. As I grew older, I noticed that Mama always tried to see the “Bright Side” of every situation, easy or difficult. From 1960 until 1964, Mama had 5 major kidney surgeries, with the 5th one removing her right kidney. Now, picture this, it was 1964 and medical science was evolving, yet was nothing like today. Mama came home with a drain tube coming from her right side and it was attached to a large glass jar. My first question to Mama was, “What is that?” She could see the fear in my young eyes, and she answered my question with a “Funny” that would calm my fears. A few weeks before her surgery, we had a new septic tank installed and the man that installed it was patient and kind, with this inquisitive young kid, as he explained every aspect of the installation and the need for the new septic tank. So, Mama said to me, “Baby, this is my new septic tank!” She laughed, I laughed and when Daddy got home, he laughed. I learned that laughter will not stop calamities or disease or tensions or distresses, however, laughter acts as a strong medicine, soothing difficult times and brightening up the dreariness of our daily grind. Laughter builds inner strength and fortifies us as we deal with life’s challenges. Amid this challenging environment and during the confusion of what is real and what is fake and what is true and what is false, I pray that God will allow us to stop and re-focus and re-tool, so that we can smile in the midst of the chaos and confusion and, simply, let ourselves laugh a little! A couple of years ago, I fell and hurt my back. I was carrying a jar of water in my hand, and when I recovered from my acrobatic contortions, I discovered that I had not spilled the water, nor had I broken the jar. I was in constant pain for 12 days and I was unable to rest in bed, so I attempted sleep in my recliner. I thought about my first thought and laughed…I wasn’t upset about the fall; I was amazed that I held the jar! It does not take a lot to see the negative and the controversial issues of the day, however, it requires the Grace of God to believe that He has this situation and with the God Given Common Sense, and with Obedience to His Call, we will overcome and do it with a smile on our faces and a chuckle in our souls. Recently, I was asked how I could be so casual about all that is going on in the world. My answer was simple and direct… “I do not know exactly where this is going and I do not know how it will change our daily lives and I do not know the struggles and distress that we will face, however, what I do know is this: I AM THE SON OF THE KING, WHO IS NOT MOVED BY THE WORLD. FOR MY GOD IS WITH ME AND GOES BEFORE ME AND HE HAS ME SECURELY IN HIS GRIP. I DO NOT FEAR BECAUSE I AM HIS!” I am not angry, nor am I dismayed, nor am I sad…I choose to claim His Promises of Victory and to live my short time here, with a song in my heart, laughter on my lips and joy unspeakable and covered in His Glory! Be grumpy, hateful, angry, and argumentative if you will, however, I refuse to do it! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!
P.S. If you need a laugh, think about this old man doing the “hucklebuck” while falling and attempting to keep the water in the jar and the jar from dropping and breaking. It was kinda funny!!