The Joy of Laughter: A 3-Day Marriage Planنموونە

Family Whispers

Be joyful always.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Levity and lightheartedness are the glue that holds family members together. Families willing to laugh at funny stories about growing up are sure to forge a strong bond during tough times.

We heard about a mother who decided to hold her squirming toddler in her lap during his first Muppet movie. Midway through, they lost control of a large Pepsi and a box of buttered popcorn. The gooey mixture flowed over the child into the mother’s lap. Since the movie was almost over, she decided to sit it out. What she didn’t know was that she and her son were being cemented together. When the movie ended, they stood up . . . and the mother’s wraparound skirt stuck to the bottom of the toddler, came unraveled, and followed him up the aisle. She stood there clutching her slip and thanking the Lord she had taken time to put one on!

Another mother wrote us about a little miscommunication involving her preschooler: “Perhaps there should be a uniform word for ‘potty’ when children have to go to the bathroom. My three‐year‐old has been taught to refer to that act as a ‘whisper.’ Well, his grandfather came to visit us, and in the middle of the night my son came to his bed and said, ‘Grandpa, I have to whisper.’ Not wanting to awaken his wife, he said, ‘Okay. Whisper in my ear.’” So the little boy did.

The telling and retelling of funny moments like these can connect families for generations. God created us with a sense of humor for a reason. We believe that He wants us to use it.

Just between us . . .

• Why do you think that God created us with the ability to laugh?

• Do you remember any funny family stories from your childhood?

• How can we preserve our family heritage through stories?

Lord, we’re grateful we can share funny times with our kids. Help us make them part of a grand story that will bind us together for years. Amen.

Excerpted from Night Light for Couples, used with permission.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Ps. 90:14, ESV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . (Eccl. 3:1, 4, ESV)

“The Tough and the Gentle” (This article, excerpted from Dr. Dobson’s Parenting Isn’t for Cowards, is available on our website.)