The other morning was very emotional for Chris and myself. We were doing our daily devotions and this one hit home with both of our hearts. It talked about building memories with you kids especially laughter. That is something we had been able to do with them. We have had so much fun raising these 3 wonderful people. Comedy, practical jokes, just plain silliness had surrounded us all. Sure there was the serious times and the sad times. But with the tears there would always come the giggling at something amusing.
The text described Life without joy is like a bone out of joint, which doesn't function properly. We can do nothing well without joy.
The key verse is Psalm 40:3 - He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
A new song is what Chris and I are working on with God's grace. We are trying to develop a new identity apart from being parents of growing children. We sometimes feel like our skin doesn't fit anymore and as the study pointed out that without joy, we can do nothing. We would be like a violin out of tune, which yields nothing but harsh sounds.
"Laughter in the Walls" by Bob Benson captures the essence of spending time together in laughter as a family.
I pass a lot of houses on my way home—
some pretty,
some expensive,
some inviting—
but my heart always skips a beat
when I turn down the road
and see my house nestled against the hill.
I guess I'm especially proud
of the house and the way it looks because
I drew the plans myself.
It started out large enough for us—
I even had a study—
two teenaged boys now reside in there.
And it had a guest room—
my girl and nine dolls are permanent guests.
It had a small room Peg
had hoped would be her sewing room—
the boys swinging on the Dutch door
have claimed this room as their own.
So it really doesn't look right now
as if I'm much of an architect.
But it will get larger again—
one by one they will go away
to work,
to college,
to service,
to their own houses,
and then there will be room—
a guest room,
a study,
and a sewing room
for just the two of us.
But it won't be empty—
every comer,
every room,
every nick
in the coffee table
will be crowded with memories.
Memories of picnics,
parties, Christmases,
bedside vigils, summers,
fires, winters, going barefoot,
leaving for vacation, cats,
conversation, black eyes,
graduations, first dates,
ball games, arguments,
washing dishes, bicycles,
dogs, boat rides,
getting home from vacation,
meals, rabbits and
a thousand other things
that fill the lives
of those who would raise five.
And Peg and I will sit
quietly by the fire
and listen to the
laughter in the walls.
This touched me and made me thankful that the Lord gave our little family laughter and joy with each other. I feel blessed as there was very little turmoil in our home. We all enjoyed each other. I trust as our children become adults that this will hold true and be passed on.
The text described Life without joy is like a bone out of joint, which doesn't function properly. We can do nothing well without joy.
The key verse is Psalm 40:3 - He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
A new song is what Chris and I are working on with God's grace. We are trying to develop a new identity apart from being parents of growing children. We sometimes feel like our skin doesn't fit anymore and as the study pointed out that without joy, we can do nothing. We would be like a violin out of tune, which yields nothing but harsh sounds.
"Laughter in the Walls" by Bob Benson captures the essence of spending time together in laughter as a family.
I pass a lot of houses on my way home—
some pretty,
some expensive,
some inviting—
but my heart always skips a beat
when I turn down the road
and see my house nestled against the hill.
I guess I'm especially proud
of the house and the way it looks because
I drew the plans myself.
It started out large enough for us—
I even had a study—
two teenaged boys now reside in there.
And it had a guest room—
my girl and nine dolls are permanent guests.
It had a small room Peg
had hoped would be her sewing room—
the boys swinging on the Dutch door
have claimed this room as their own.
So it really doesn't look right now
as if I'm much of an architect.
But it will get larger again—
one by one they will go away
to work,
to college,
to service,
to their own houses,
and then there will be room—
a guest room,
a study,
and a sewing room
for just the two of us.
But it won't be empty—
every comer,
every room,
every nick
in the coffee table
will be crowded with memories.
Memories of picnics,
parties, Christmases,
bedside vigils, summers,
fires, winters, going barefoot,
leaving for vacation, cats,
conversation, black eyes,
graduations, first dates,
ball games, arguments,
washing dishes, bicycles,
dogs, boat rides,
getting home from vacation,
meals, rabbits and
a thousand other things
that fill the lives
of those who would raise five.
And Peg and I will sit
quietly by the fire
and listen to the
laughter in the walls.
This touched me and made me thankful that the Lord gave our little family laughter and joy with each other. I feel blessed as there was very little turmoil in our home. We all enjoyed each other. I trust as our children become adults that this will hold true and be passed on.
Ben was the Trickster/Mastermind: Hiding under desks, behind doors, etc... jumping out at just the right time to make your heart stop. Torturing his little brother or recruiting his sister in some sort of adventure. He would make up songs that made us groan and snicker such as "Coventry Corners store" and "Going in Sane" songs we could never forget those words or tunes. I can remember when Chris would pretend to take his eyeball out and put it in his mouth, Ben's face was awestruck or when Chris would take his fork and fake that his tongue was stuck to it. That was too funny watching Ben cringe. Or when Ben didn't want to brush his teeth when he was about 3 or 4 so we had Grandpa show him what would happen if he didn't brush his teeth. Grandpa would take out his dentures and Ben would hold up his hands screaming "NO NO!" Ben sure learned alot from those times...good times.
Becky was the Comedian/Ham: Having a comment about anything "it's sticking out", "hey eye eye", she could really make your eyes roll. Once as a toddler we found her fast asleep with my bra on. In the grocery store there was a display of Leggs brand pantyhose when they were packaged in the egg shaped containers. Becky would stand posing with 2 of them pressed up against her chest. She would line all her dolls and stuffed toys on the couch sitting with them. Always wanting an audience!
Ethan was the Easy Mark: He was so serious as little boy that he became the victim of many of the jokes. Recording himself singing on a Talk-Boy which turned into screaming in horror because he saw a cricket and running away. Which all was recording for our listening pleasure. Being subject to Ben's finger guillotine was not fun for him but for all of us it was priceless. When he was insulted or angry he would stomp upstairs to his room and we would say, ..."wait for it..." and then SLAM went the door. He does have a great sense of humor now, slow to develop and very sutle that it sneaks up on you.
They had been visiting with their grandparents one summer and they were so bored. They inflated balloons and drew goofy faces on them with black marker. They took many many photos of these as in front of their faces in different poses. I snort out my laughter every time I look at those photos just thinking of the ingenuity of it all.
What do Chris and I hear in our walls? Giggles and laughter!
