Faith or fun?

Recently I went to a meeting that is for mothers of preschoolers. Yes there is a name, and I'm sure you know what that group is really called; but for the purpose of this blog - it is just a meeting.

I was excited because I knew a few of the moms that attended these meetings, and they had childcare. For 2 exhilarating hours, I could be barnacle child free! So how bad could this be?

Bad! I was assigned to a table, which I knew would happen, but I was not prepared for the table I was told to sit at. The ladies were very kind, very welcoming, and well... that's all I can think of. We prayed a couple of times (the group is church based), we did an activity, and we had a guess speaker. At the end of two hours I was relieved to go. Why you may ask?

I think I was expecting a morning where we could talk about our kids - the good, the bad, and the ugly, our husbands - the good, the bad, and the ugly, or our thighs - the good, the bad, and the dimpled. I was hoping for some good girl chat!!! I'll give you a topic -patience - discuss amongst yourselves (oh how I miss Mike Myers on SNL). But no, not a lot of laughter, not any discussion of thighs. In fact it was kind of a downer.

My relationship with God has been a tenuous one in the past 20 years, but I am closer to Him than ever before now. I remind myself to be a better person much more now, I try to judge less and love more, and I pray as often as I can. But can't I have faith and still have fun??? This is the thought that occurred to me as I left the meeting. I enjoy laughter. It has gotten me through some tough times. Is it appropriate to make jokes that my dad's work truck gave him his cancer due to its high level of uncleanliness? Maybe. Was it inappropriate for my husband and I to laugh over a couple of silly jokes on the internet while our daughter was having surgery at 2 months old? Perhaps. But I have found that without laughter, the tough things in life are even tougher. Does God want us to be somber in our faith? I hope not! I think that by having a good time with family and friends, we share the joy and light that God brings to our hearts with those around us.

So lighten up girls. I believe God wants us to have a good time, laugh, and be merry. Pray with a light heart and an open one. Be thankful for the good in your life, and find some humor in the bad. Then thank God for giving you a sense of humor to deal with it all!