A week of …
Deep belly laughs followed by uncontrollable giggles
Laughing until our sides hurt over seemingly nothing
True enjoyment over each other’s company
Mix them all together and you find laughter IS the best medicine.
Sometimes it takes a few minutes, maybe hours, or even days in the presence of loved ones to know you are exactly where you should be. I learned early on how my sons can make me laugh when I least expect and when you put my family together the joy is contagious.
Last week, I spent time away with my kids. Every minute was a gift. Time with my loved ones doesn’t happen often enough due to distance, but each minute together is treasured all the more. When you practice presence and lace it with love, the time spent together seems endless yet fleeting all at the same time. Last week looked exactly like slow motion mixed with high speed moments of deep laughter, some tears and immense joy.
What I continue to learn about family is how our deep connectedness revolves around laughter, but more important is the choice we made to center our lives on God. His strength, provision, and grace keeps us focused on what matters most. The roots of our faith produce fruit because we know what love looks like and who is Love.
Families change over the years due to age, growth, loss, and other reasons beyond our control. The shape of my family is changing once again. But the bottom line is that God is still good and shows me how grace grows even in the times of change. Laughter is the glue that holds my family together and laughter is the best medicine.
Laughter is restorative. Just when you believe brokenness will overcome, you discover how laughter lifts the shroud and sends restoration.
You can find healing through surrendering to deep belly laughs. There were moments I could not catch my breath last week because I was laughing so hard. The best part is that each laugh erased a piece of the hurt and in its place healing entered.
Laughter happens when you feel fully comfortable with those around you. My family time was easy and everything about it was just right.
As my family moves toward the future together, we know we are stronger because of God’s love, endless grace, and the hope of all our tomorrows. We are better together. When we stare down the future together, we know more is yet to come and it is good. Change wants to defeat us, but God instills new beginnings and victory.
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Dear Friends,
I pray you are surrounded by your own tribe of people connected with love and deep laughter. When tears come, laughter is sure to follow on its heels. God takes each tear and holds them close.
Those who sow their tears as seeds
will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow,
but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness
as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing! – Psalm 126:5-6 TPT
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Mary,
Thank you for this glimpse into the window of your family. Thanks for taking us on vacation with you and for giving us an opportunity to remember the joy of laughter.
We, my husband, my parents and I, are presently in the car driving together to Florida for our youngest son’s Army specialist graduation.
We’re enroute expectant of a beautiful family time with our oldest son joining us tomorrow.💞 Thank you, Mary, for the linkup. You shine!
You’re welcome. It is such a treat to give you all glimpse into my life. You are all such an encouraging community.
I hope your vacation to see your son’s army graduation is a time of laughter and sweet memories. Enjoy!
I often forget the value of laughter. I get so busy in daily life and laughter falls to the bottom of the list. Then something happens and I laugh…really laugh. And then I remember how important and healing and hope-filled laughter is!
Life can get in the way of laughter, but time away provides the space to remember what laughter is all about. I pray you find moments of healing laughter in your day.
I can completely relate!! We are a laughing family as well. It works like a glue. Holding things together- even when all else is falling apart. Truly the best medicine!
Laughter does work like glue. It is such a gift. I love having you here. Have a wonderful rest of the week.
This is beautiful, Mary. And, I love that Psalm in that version! I’m finding I could use more laughter in my days. I’m so glad you had that special time with your kids and I appreciate you sharing some of it here. Have a blessed day, my friend!
Thank you, Julie! I am blessed by your sweet words. I pray you find more laughter throughout your week.
Change seems to be a constant in this life, but love of family and the joy we have together makes it sweeter.
I agree that change is a constant. Even as I get older, I still find I fight change. It is not my favorite. Family is my glue during the times of change. Blessed to have you here today.
I’m a tween right now – inbetween hard decisions for older family members – and it makes me so sad (I can only say the book The Summer of the Grandmother by L’Engle expresses it perfectly) – and my boys to men (one still in h.s., one in college full time, one in college part time, two married with children) – and life at home with the 3 still in the next is sweetness, crazy, blessed – and I am trying to capture the grace found in both extremes! So glad you had the deep, belly laughs with your family. I think as moms we store those in our hearts to pull out and savor later!
That is such a hard place to be. But the blessings will bring such sweet perspective. Having all boys, I have no doubt that laughter has graced many a gathering. I am praying for you in the “tween” time as you learn how to navigate both sides.
oh yes, laughter does bring healing and I think it helps change and bring things in to perspective. Thanks Mary for your words of wisdom today. 🙂
Laughter has always been so good for my soul. It helps release any of those things that keep me away from joy. Blessed to have you here, Debbie!
Dear Mary,
Oh, I am so glad that the Lord blessed you with such gifts of laughter at your family vacation time. Those moments truly are so special, and create new memories within the memories! I am so touched by this: “Change wants to defeat us, but God instills new beginnings and victory.” How true! Those changing times and seasons feel so hard, but God is right there helping us through the transitions. May you continue to feel His presence with you and with your dear family. Love and hugs!
There were new memories within the memories and the week is one we will remember for a long time. The best part of any family time is the presence of God. It has been the one constant that dwells among us. I am praying for you as you face your own changes with health and treatment.
Laughter erases hurt and brings in healing. I just love that! And the Psalm you shared. I will be diving into that deeper. May the changes that are upon you be wrapped up in true joy that our Father gives freely! Thank you!
I have had a lot of experience with the healing from laughter. It has always been so restorative for me. I guess it helps having four brothers who make me laugh too. I appreciate your words about the changes being wrapped in joy. I am leaning into that today and moving forward. Blessings friend!
This is lovely, Mary! I’m glad you enjoyed time with your family, and lots of laughter! It can make a big difference when we are able to laugh together.
Thank you, Lesley! It is always such a blessing when I am with my family. Thank you for sharing your own encouraging story today.
sometimes we don’t realize how long it’s been since we laughed long and well until we actually do it yet once again.
what an amazing gift.
and sometimes it’s surprising how close tears are connected.
go figure …
It was an amazing gift. Time with family never fails to restore order and peace into my life. And yes, tears are always right there too. Love how you know exactly what I mean!
Mary, family time is precious. I am excited that my daughter and grandchildren are moving this week. They’ll be four hours closer! I leave a week from today to help unpack. I know there will be plenty of laughter while we work.
What a blessing to have family closer. I know it will be such a gift to spend more time with them. I hope the unpacking goes smoothly and you enjoy a lot of laughter.
I’m smiling just reading this, because I’m remember our last big family gathering. Thank you for the way you share your heart–and your vacations!–here in this welcoming space.
I have no doubt that when your family gets together there is lots of laughter. Boys just seem to have laughter following them. I can just imagine how much fun your gathering with family was.
I love welcoming friends into this space. I pray there is something that touches everyone who joins me here.
Mary, this is beautifully comforting this morning. Bittersweet. I am so grateful our God brings hope and victory when change threatens to overtake and overwhelm us. Praying for you and your family this morning. May God continue to give you all these moments of laughter and the assurance He is with you all – even in the midst of change. Blessings!
Praying for you, Joanne. ((Hugs))
Change is always hard and even more difficult when it involves family. The blessing is how strong my family is and how we work so well together. I am truly blessed that we have each other and God. Laughter is so healing and of course brings so much joy. Thank you for the prayers.