A Time To Laugh

"There is a time to weep and a time to laugh," this scripture in Ecclesiastes 3, 📗 highlights the flow of our emotions, teaching us that life encompasses both moments of sorrow and moments of joy. Embracing this balance is crucial, as it helps us appreciate that each experience, whether marked by tears or laughter, is significant in shaping our lives. Striving for balance allows us to navigate the highs and lows with grace and understanding.

There was a time when my life was engulfed in the sorrows of this world. 💔 I withdrew, not wanting to talk to anyone or engage in anything. I wallowed in self-pity, hosting daily pity parties 😭🎉 for myself. Those were what some of my darkest days looked like. I felt trapped, convinced that I would never smile or laugh again. Have you experienced this before? But then, one day, I realized that living in a constant state of darkness wasn't normal. I knew I needed help. I reached out to my mom and told her, "I don't want to be sad anymore. I want to laugh, but nothing's funny." Her response surprised me: "Nothing has to be funny. Just start laughing." So, I gave it a try. 

At first, it was a half-hearted "hehe,"😬 the kind where your teeth don’t even part. It felt forced and empty, but my mom persisted. She laughed along with me, her laughter growing louder and more infectious. As we continued, my "hehe" transformed into a "haha," 😆 and soon, I found myself holding my stomach, tears streaming down my face on the floor from laughter. 😂 Even though it started as nothing, the act of laughing became contagious. The more I pressed into it, the more everything seemed funny. At that moment, I discovered the power of laughter. It was a breakthrough, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there can be light. 💡 And sometimes, all it takes is a simple start to begin finding our way out. 

In life when it feels like nothing is happening and our reality falls short of our plans, it's crucial to keep pushing forward. Stay committed to the goals you believe God has set before you. Dust off that vision you once wrote down but never acted upon. It's time to put those plans into motion—they've been sitting idle for far too long. Get those emotions out of the dark room and step into the light. 💡Remember that iconic remake movie scene where the character says, "Step into the light, Carol Anne, step into the light"? 😂Well, it's your turn to step in the light now. Illuminate your path, embrace the light, and move forward with purpose. Your future awaits, but you have to take that first step out of the shadows.  

What if I had never chosen to laugh? 😕 What if I had allowed the idea of happiness and freedom to remain just a fleeting thought? 💭 Where would I be now? What if my mom had never encouraged me to find joy in life? I'm grateful she pushed me to embrace laughter, even when I resisted. The people we surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives. ⭕ Take a moment to reflect on your own life and the individuals in it. Are these people like human lightbulbs, offering clarity and encouragement?  Or are they like dark closets, keeping you enclosed to everything you should be walking away from? 💣Choose to surround yourself with those who brighten your path and help you grow. 💖

Jesus helped me more than I'll ever be able to thank him.✝ He's so wonderful and funny. Imagine the things Jesus must have laughed at. Picture Him thinking, "I’m about to turn water into wine,🍷 and their shocked faces will be priceless." 😊 Or consider the moment when He multiplied the food. I imagine Jesus watching from afar, thinking, "Brother Tim doesn’t think he’s going to eat because we only have two fish and five 🐟 loaves of bread, 🥖 but watch this." Boom! He probably kept a serious face on the outside while laughing inside, knowing they never saw it coming. 😆 The food never stopped. Brother Tim probably even took a to-go box home! 😋 Do you see where I’m going with this? Life doesn’t have to be super serious all the time. If God has such a sense of humor, so can you.

I remember attending a Bible study at church ⛪ where the entire congregation burst into laughter. Coming from an uptight, formal church background, I found laughing in church intolerable. 😡 As I sat there, watching everyone laugh to tears, I initially kept a stern face. I had never seen anything like it and didn’t know it was acceptable. But as more of the congregation joined in, I couldn’t help but laugh too. After a good 45 minutes of laughter, I realized I felt lighter and rejuvenated, 😊 without doing anything but laugh. Laughter is truly like medicine, and we were refreshed just by laughing in His presence. When the scriptures say He will turn your mourning into dancing and your sorrow into joy, it’s literal. He will give you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Accept it. 🤍

If life’s circumstances are weighing you down and you find it hard to do anything, I challenge you to get into the atmosphere of Jesus and laugh 😄 every weight off. Dance 💃 like the weight has been lifted, sing 🎤 like it’s only you and Him, worship as if it’s your last breath, 🙌 lose track of time, and rest in Him. 

If you haven't laughed today, consider this your invitation. 📨 It might feel awkward at first, but remember, I'm laughing with you and always praying for you. I pray the spirit of laughter overtakes you today, filling you with uncontrollable giggles that you can't help but let out. Don’t dwell on the darkness too long, aim to be a glass-half-full kind of person. I pray that even in the toughest moments, you find the light and joy. What will you find to laugh about today? 👀😂

See you on the next blog Wednesday! 

You are a bloomer. Bloom baby bloom, with me Tee! 😌