Going to parties, taking expensive trips, buying lots of clothes and jewelry were not high on my mother’s list of desirable things to do. When she went out or entertained friends at home, her one criteria for a good time was whether or not she had been able to share a good laugh. “Laugh! I thought I’d die!” was one of her favorite expressions, and she might say it coming home from the grocery store or during a picnic, or after talking with her cousins. Whenever she said “Laugh! I thought I’d die!”, we knew she had had a good time.

“Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:5)

God’s movement toward redeeming the world of mankind began with the unlikely birth of a baby named “laughter.” The laughter of Sarah echoes even today in every soul who experiences the unlikely but real presence of the living God in his or her life.

It was Abraham’s choice to name his son Isaac, but It was God’s angel who prompted it when he asked , “Why did Sarah laugh?” When she denied it, he answered firmly, “You did laugh”. (Genesis 18:15) Thousands of years later a young woman, descendant of Sara and Abraham, was pregnant with an unlikely child, and her joy recalled Sarah’s: “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the mighty one has done great things for me—holy is His name.’” (Luke 1:46-49)

The incongruous, sometimes silly things that people say and do brought laughter to my mother. The most unlikely birth of a baby, the gift of a new life itself, brought laughter to Sarah, and exultant joy to Mary. To think that our very relationship with our Maker began with a laugh, first of disbelief, and then of joy, opens our minds to the limitless goodness of our God, and His exquisite knowledge of our characters. He knows how to make us laugh! And He knows how good it will be for us. The Psalmist wrote, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy.”(Psalm 126:2)

“Laugh! I thought I’d die!” My mother never died of laughter, but she passed her gift of laughter to her children. They all cherish a good laugh. In this Easter season, I look forward to even more joyful laughter.

Love in Him,

Prue