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The lost art of JOY

In my parents' household there is almost always someone smiling, laughing, or doing something amusing. This isn't to say that we don't have serious talks and ponder deep mysteries, but in general there is a lightness about their home that is both welcoming and relaxing. This, however, is not a popular trend in today's culture.
 
The gift of joy, being able to laugh, and finding pleasure in normal every day things seems to have been drowned in the bottomless pit of  work, raising a family, school, money, and stress. Life is busy and I think everyone can agree with that, however, I don't believe the business is the problem. The issue really is selfishness. Sometimes it takes effort, a lot of effort, to step outside of your stressed out, busy mindset and listen to what your child is saying and laugh. Yes, that's right, it is OK to laugh at the silly things that happen.  

I believe my father is becoming a master at this art of laughter.  When the cat falls off the railing onto the deck he laughs, when my sister makes a corny pun he laughs, when his neighbor kid is standing in a puddle with mud covering him from head to toe my dad laughs. My father can laugh because he observes things that are funny. He opens his eyes past his every day work and sees the little things that happen, finds the humor, and laughs. I don't suppose he was always this way but he grew to become this way (with the aid of his 7 hilarious children and an almost as humorous wife, I might add)

The challenge is not making funny things happy. The challenge is seeing them. To parents I would like to encourage you too take a step back, spend quality time with your kids, and laugh with them, at them, and for them. To children I encourage you to humor your parents and laugh with them as well. In general, I challenge everyone to stop taking themselves so seriously, go do something fun, and laugh. You might be surprised with how you feel after.


      

Comments

  1. Mandee14 January 2013 at 14:17

    Thanks for the reminder to laugh and see joy in things.

    God bless :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emily Wielinga15 January 2013 at 05:43

    Thanks for the reminder Becca. :)

    ReplyDelete

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