How to Laugh at the Days to Come
She laughs at the days to come…
Last week, I wrote about “what your mother really wants for Mother’s Day,” and that made me think about being a woman who “laughs at the days to come.”
Strength and dignity are her clothing;
She laughs at the days to come.” Prov. 31:25
A short story of not laughing
Several years ago, we had a series of events involving broken appliances and water. Here is the story of one of them.
One morning at approximately 6 o’clock, I stumbled sleepy-eyed into the kitchen, where I discovered, fortunately not by stepping in it, a small puddle of water spreading from our refrigerator.
I did not laugh. Not at all funny. The last time we had an event that involved water and this appliance, I ended up like one of those cartoon characters with my finger trying to stop a spray of water shooting from behind the built-in.
I believe my response was something like, “Oh, great!” highly titered with sarcasm.
Since the water was not spraying and only expanding if I measured carefully, which I did not, I decided to go on with coffee and letting the dog out and sitting down to today’s reading.
She laughs without fear of the future.
The NLT translates Prov. 31:25:
“She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.”
It made me think…
What does it look like to laugh…
- when we see refrigerator puddles?
- when unexpected bills arrive in the mail?
- when a dire diagnosis comes?
- When a friend makes a cutting remark?
- when we think about the job interview or lack thereof?
What if, when we think about the days to come, or just the day to come, we laughed?
Not the cynical laugh of a mocking, sarcastic woman: “Oh, great!”;
nor the naïve laugh of the giggly schoolgirl, “Oh, I won’t worry about that;”
nor the troubling laugh of the insane movie character, “Mwahahaha!” (to quote my children☺).
The gospel makes us laugh
We could only laugh in the way Proverbs describes as women clothed in strength and dignity, women who laugh because we remember and hope.
We remember:“the wonderful miracles of the Lord,” and “his awe-inspiring deeds” (Ps. 145)(which do not always include refrigerator water evaporating nor sadly, tumors mysteriously disappearing).
We hope. We laugh at the future because we have hope. We look forward to the coming when Jesus will complete the restoration work he has begun. In that day, doubts will never assail us; our capacity to rest in God’s love will be perfect; and community will flourish day after day in unbroken praise of our Creator. (Revelation 21-22).
Yes, until that day, we will be assaulted by the trials and travails of the fallen world, but because of the wild reality of the resurrection of Christ, anything can happen. Anything.
A Prayer about Laughing at the Days to Come
Dear Lord, Sovereign God of the universe,
Help us to be women who find our strength not in our own power but in your strength made perfect in our weakness. Forgive us for trying to run the world on our own terms, for forgetting to look for you in all circumstances. Help us to have photographic memories of your mercy and grace. And in each day, let us be confident and creative, looking at each moment as a gift from you and an opportunity to know your love more deeply.
In the glorious name of the One who saves us from all fear and fretting. Amen
Don’t miss a post! Sign up here to receive gospel encouragement and real stories in your inbox once or twice a week.