“Live, love, laugh!”

Oh, for the courage!

The courage to live courageously and take risks and fall flat on my face.

The courage to love with an open heart, knowing it will be broken many times over.

The courage to laugh,  knowing there will be tears in the future.

Today, I’m praying especially for the courage to laugh.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25, NLT

Laugh with no fear of the future.  Knowing that there WILL be pain.  There will be tears.  There will be sorrow.  But today, it’s time to laugh.

I forget to laugh. And yes, sometimes I’m even almost afraid to laugh and be silly.  It seems so…irresponsible.  Almost… dangerous.  In the past, I had an unspoken agreement with fear about this.  The fear of enjoying the good things right now, because “you never know what’s around the corner”…as in me experiencing joy would somehow jinx things! Like if God saw that I was having too much fun, He would send a flat tire or a heartbreak to knock me off of my high horse. (Yes, I do realize this is craziness.)  This, however, is the opposite of living and trusting in the arms of a loving, faithful God who delights in me!

But for real…I’m always so serious.  I need crazy, fun people in my life (like my extremely extroverted husband) to laugh at me when I have peanut butter on my nose or to sing crazy made-up songs at the top of their lungs ’til I’m laughing so hard I can’t breathe.  To remind me to laugh at my own mistakes.   And you do, too!

So I would tell you, my dear sister, LAUGH!  Put down your to-do list, leave the dishes in the sink, and spin around your living room laughing.  Laugh down deep in your belly…laugh until your face hurts! Laugh, with no fear of the future…for you know the One who holds your future.

But maybe, today isn’t your day to laugh.

Maybe you’re in the middle of the pain and junk and tears right now, and the very thought of laughter angers you.  I know, sweet girl.  I know.  I’ve been there…and will be there many times again.  But here is what Jesus would have you  know today:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4, NIV

There will be comfort, dear one!

And King David’s words to you would be:

Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:5-6, NKJV

And King Solomon is right behind him with his wisdom:

For everything there is a time… a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Ecclesiastes 3:1a, 4, NET

Just because you might be crying today doesn’t mean the tears are forever.

Think of the little girl throwing a fit in Walmart because her mean momma won’t buy her a Barbie doll.  She is convinced that her life is over.

Or the 14-year-old bawling in her room ‘cuz her daddy says she’s too young to date.  Life. Officially. Over.

And yet, life goes on.  The little girl soon forgets all about the Barbie at Walmart and is laughing and playing dress-up in her momma’s high heels.

And that precious 14-year-old goes out for ice cream with her girls, and Boy Crush is far from her mind.

This is us.  Our amazing Heavenly Father watches us as we throw temper tantrums, and He watches us mourn over lost relationships, lost opportunities, heartbreaks, and even the death of someone dear…and He sees.  He sees, and He’s there.  In our temper tantrums, He smiles knowingly like the mom at Walmart, knowing the “so much better” things He’s got planned for us (Jeremiah 29:11).  And with the really big stuff- the really heartbreaking, soul-crushing pain… He’s there to bind up our broken hearts… to hold us, and cry with us.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3, NKJV

 You have seen me tossing and turning through the night.  You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book.

Psalm 56:8, TLB

So no matter where you are tonight, my beautiful sister,…needing to be reminded not to take life so seriously (like me!) or that your Father in Heaven is collecting your tears in a bottle…

Have the courage to live, laugh, and love.

Because it’s the stuff life’s made of.  And you were created to live this crazy, messy, beautiful life.

2 Comments

  1. Really enjoyed this message.
    Sometimes we forget to smile and enjoy the life God has given us.
    If I feel down I go on YouTube and listen to babies laugh,
    And I am reminded to laugh from the depths of my soul.
    Thanks and God bless.

  2. I’m trying to laugh but my hurts just won’t let me. Enjoyed your thoughts.