NEW BEGINNINGS: Life After LossEgzanp

LIGHT... LAUGHTER... and HOPE

Usually, the valleys in our lives ignite us to draw nigh to the Word of God. Let me just say the magnet that pulled me to God’s Word was adversity. Difficult times sparked my desire and thirst for the Word. Neither occurred when things were going well; it was the opposite. King David alluded to the same when he said, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Psalm 119:71). God’s Word is a light and lamp of hope in our darkest times.

I am reminded of a season when God showed me and my sisters how powerful laughter can be. In 2014 (May 8th), our Father… the Patriarch of our family… went to be with the Lord. Though he had lived a long, fruitful life, and we had time to prepare for his last days... it still hit us like a ton of bricks when he passed. I felt like a "floating torso" without an anchor. That is the best way I can describe it. A few days after he passed, while sitting with our mom... (who was a bit confused and not fully aware that dad was no longer with us), it seemed as if every word that came out of her mouth was hilarious. I'm not sure if it was what she said or how she said what she said, but once we started laughing... we could not stop; it really was contagious.

Researchers show that a cheerful heart can diffuse tension and anxiety while simultaneously helping individuals see things in a new light. Looking back, the laughter infused us with a spirit of joy. Right in the middle of our grieving, God brought laughter to our souls. Being infused with joyful memories enabled us to navigate the entire bereavement process without giving in to paralyzing sorrow. What we thought would be impossible, the Holy Spirit made possible. We were empowered to carry out our divinely assigned task. Laughter truly is like medicine; it can be a lifeline of hope and brighten the darkest of days.