My mother measured a good time by the amount of laughter it produced. When she came home with my father from an evening with friends she might say, “Laugh!” I thought I’d die!” Then my sisters and brother knew that she had had a really good time. It happened most often when she spent time with her cousins. Then the laughter really flowed.

In the Bible , Sarah laughed in disbelief at the thought of bearing a child in her old age. She laughed in joy at the birth of the child that she named “laughter”, or “Isaac.” God’s plan in shaping a people was begun with Abraham and his son “Laughter.” At Isaac’s birth, Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me.” (Genesis 21:6) Sarah’s laughter turned to rejoicing when she held her baby Isaac.

There is no scripture that mentions Jesus laughing, or even speaking of laughter, but at the Last Supper Jesus told the disciples that future grief at losing him would turn to rejoicing: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22)

Laughter is a gift that is wrapped up in rejoicing. It’s a gift of fellowship when it’s shared. The laughter of unbelief can turn into the laughter of joy. The experience of despair and resignation can turn into the laughter of a joy that is lasting, and even life changing. Jesus assured his disciples that following his death there would come great rejoicing. Jesus prayed to God his Father in the presence of the disciples , just before his death. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of joy within them.” (John 17:13)

Laughter is common; it is fleeting; it is even inconsequential, but it can also be holy. Jesus knew that he would be dying soon, and the greatest legacy he wished to leave was a holy joy in the hearts of his disciples that would enable them to overcome the many adversities that lay ahead for them.

Abraham’s son wasn’t named after his father or any of his predecessors, but after the joy and laughter at the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son.

My mother’s laughter sweetened all of her children’s lives: “Laugh! I thought I’d die.”

Love in Him,

Prue