My husband, Ian, in Sam’s Club trying to make me laugh.
Why do melons have weddings?
Because they cantaloupe!
What happens when you go to the bathroom in France?
European.
Did you hear about the guy who invented Lifesavers?
They say he made a mint!
I recently attended a birthday party of a guy who is known for these kind of crazy “dad” jokes. Just like him, the party was full of fun and laughter.
Laughter, I am convinced, is one of God’s greatest blessings.
Proverbs 15:13 says, “A glad heart makes a happy face...”
Philippians 4:4 reminds us to “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
And Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything…even laughter! (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
Unfortunately, I am a rather serious person. In fact, my husband likes to tell people that he is still looking for a sense of humor for me.
But I always reply, “Of course I have a sense of humor. I married you, didn’t I?”
Actually, while I may not be a comedian, there are few things I enjoy more than sitting around with my family laughing—or just listening to my boys laugh together.
When they were young it seemed like there was always something to laugh about. After all, kids do so many things that are comical, usually without meaning to. For example, there is the story of my friend’s son at church.
My friend, Gina, is a caterer. Her husband is a deacon. During one of the boy’s first communion services, the boy was expectedly very curious as to what was taking place. He tugged at his mother’s skirt as his father went forward to help serve. “What is Daddy doing?” he asked.
“Shhh,” the mother said, trying to quiet her son.
“What is Daddy doing?” he persisted.
“Shhh,” the mother said again, adding. “It’s the Lord’s Supper.”
The boy watched eagerly as his father began serving the sacraments.
When the boy saw what to him appeared to be the very meager meal, he said, rather loudly, “Mom! Are you sure Daddy knows how to make the Lord’s Supper?”
In the Brown house these days, we find our laughter most often from our kitten, Teddy. Teddy is a transplant to our family. He was originally adopted from the Brentwood Humane Society by our oldest, Sjon-Paul, and his wife, Lauren.
The way they chose him from among his siblings is quite interesting. They narrowed it down to two kittens and took them into a room where they could watch and interact with them. Sjon-Paul said they chose Teddy because he was the most feisty. Unfortunately, that feistiness was a little too much for the young couple to manage.
“He’s highjacked our apartment,” Sjon-Paul said. In fact, Sjon-Paul and Lauren were shutting themselves into their bedroom in order to get away from the little guy who was so hyper that he would literally climb up their legs and torso to reach them.
Anyway, Braxton (whose nickname is “Bear”) wound up inheriting Teddy as a birthday gift.
“I know what you’re doing, Sjon-Paul,” Braxton said. “You’re killing two birds with one stone—getting rid of your cat by giving him as my birthday gift! Just don’t think you can do this when you have a child. I don’t want a baby dropped off on my doorstep!”
Braxton didn’t realize that Sjon-Paul had actually killed three birds with one kitten. Teddy had been Lauren’s Valentine’s Day gift!
Anyway, now Bear has a Teddy, and while Teddy officially belongs to Bear, we all love him very much. His antics have proved quite therapeutic for us during the past few months. Watching him play hockey with peppermint candies, jump out of cereal boxes that we leave on the floor for him, and pounce on our toes as we move them under the covers are silly little things, but they are things that make us laugh.
After all, as Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
I thank God for the ability to laugh; laughter is truly therapy for the soul.
And this next month I am going to need that kind of therapy. My mind constantly wanders toward the upcoming anniversary of Brandon’s death. At times, the sense of doom and sadness is almost palpable. So, I am giving myself a prescription for all the belly laughs I can get.
Help me out. Don’t leave me hanging. Tell me, what’s your favorite funny?