Mar 13 - "A Sense of Humor"

Prayer for Mission
"Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen."
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Does God have a sense of humor? He must, right? For He created it.

Did Jesus, while on this earth as a man, laugh? I have to think so...there must of been at least one time where Peter smiled and had some spinach in his teeth. It makes me smile to think that Jesus laughed.

My brother, Andy, told me a joke yesterday, that he had recently shared with his son, Connor. There was a boy who was really struggling in math at school. Tutors (more on that later...Connor had a funny smirk on his face when Andy said 'tutor'), incentives, special books...nothing seemed to work to improve his skills. So, his parents decided to send him to Catholic School.

From the first day, the boy came home from school, went straight up to his room, studied until dinner, then again until bedtime. At the completion of the semester, he brought home a report card with an "A" in math. The boy's parents asked him, "What was it? What was the thing that made you study so much?"

The boy replied, "On the first day, when I noticed at school that guy they nailed to the 'plus sign', I knew those nuns were serious!".

Some might read this and think "Sacrilege! How dare you mock the pain of the cross!". Maybe they are right. But, I think God and Jesus would be OK with this joke, especially when a good belly-laugh is shared between a father and a son when told. We have to laugh more...especially at ourselves. As much pain and misery as there is in the world, it may sometimes be the only thing that keeps us sane. Think of how good you feel after a long bout of deep laughter, where you come to the edge of throwing up or peeing your pants. Good stuff!

The best part of this story, is after Andy finished the joke, Conner says, "Dad, what do you call a special teacher with gas?". Andy replies, "What?" Conner says, "A Tutor!" ...and the laughing continues.

So, today, enjoy one of the many gifts God has given to us. Laugh out loud!