All the Ways to Laugh Together

Our family has experienced so much laughter lately. It's something I've prayed for; we needed some lively amusement in light of a hard few months. As I think about the gift of laughter, I'm amazed by how precious a gift it is to look someone in the eye--even a complete stranger--slap your thigh, throw back your head, and laugh uncontrollably about anything: our own blunders, a well-timed joke or pun, a shared memory, animal antics, and irony.

We love irony.

We also love finding the amusing thing when we're otherwise disappointed (again, another challenge here at Live with Flair). I remember the time as a little girl when my mother made a beautiful roasted chicken. She set it on the porch to cool, and as we stood there in the kitchen, we saw a family of bold raccoons arrive and proceed to eat our entire dinner. We laughed so hard even though we never ate that delicious chicken.

We pray for laughter to enter our relationships. I think God loves to answer this prayer, and perhaps He's laughing with you.

Did you laugh really hard today?

"The significant is often the most hidden."

Today I read a little quote from Henri Nouwen:

@HenriNouwen: In God's eyes the most significant is often the most hidden.

Again, I love the challenge of it. The thing we think is the most inconsequential, unimportant, or unworthy might be the most significant.

The Challenge of Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for YOU as readers and friends. 

I love thinking of thankfulness as a challenge; if things seem awful, it's that much more rewarding to find the good news. There's always a bit of good if we look for it. There's always God's loving care and comfort to experience. 

I'm thankful that God gives us the ability to see Him in every trial--if we look. If we seek, we will find Him. 

Thank you! Thank you, God, for being here.