There is nothing as good as laughter at bringing people together.
Last night, three ladies joined me for Bible Study, but even as we talked real life and what parts of the homework we didn’t get done and where God was speaking to us, we laughed. We laughed at ourselves, mostly. And our stories. Laughter brings us together.
Yesterday afternoon, we stood around the kitchen table in Eric’s grandparents’ house. It’s been over 2 years since his grandpa passed away, almost 18 months since his grandma died. But the house is still full of treasure and trash. So we went through things. We tested the depression glass (it is real uranium glass, by the way). We looked at pictures. We read journals. We found neat things, and we laughed. At old photos. At strange “finds.” At good memories.
On Saturday, we went to the benefit for the Amish schools, otherwise known as the Amish Barbecue. The food is always phenomenal. But what is really fun is how you always see someone you know. We found family and friends. We joked and chatted at multiple tables. We oohed over my friend’s daughter’s just-lost tooth. We giggled over her toddler’s description of a camel spitting. The laughter reminds of us of connections. And fun. And it is as fulfilling as the food.
We rode home from church yesterday, and Eric teased the kids. He makes me laugh. Even after 12+ years of marriage. And the laughter connects us. He surprises me. I respond to him. We are better when we laugh together.
And I wish there was a way that more of the world could laugh together. Not at each other. Not in satire or full-blown sarcasm. But the true kind of connection that comes when we laugh together. It brings joy. It reminds us that there’s still hope. It satisfies us like good food. It’s so easy to get serious and focused. I do it too often. But I want to remember to laugh. I want to relax and find community and create community … through laughter.
