First Christian Church Ish Engle
One of my favorite sayings is, “If you can’t laugh at yourself, you don’t get the joke!” We are created in the image of a God who made many strange and wonderful things, including a mammal that lays eggs! Alone among God’s creatures, we can laugh. We are created in the image of the God of Isaac: and Isaac means “laughter”!
Too often these days we take ourselves too seriously. We are so worried about being the best, or about making the most money, or about getting the next promotion. Have we forgotten that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? Don’t get me wrong, a strong work ethic is important. But so is a strong play ethic.
Playing helps us to grow mentally. Playing improves our imagination. Playing improves our mood and our overall mental health. Remember, God stated that we should not work on the Sabbath, but that we should re-create: play. Play, especially imaginative play, makes us better workers, too.
It is far too easy to get caught up in the current of life’s flow. It is easy to get swept away and drown in that stream. But, with a little bit of creativity and imagination, it is also easy to float on that same stream. Play, rest, laughter, family all make you a better person. They also help you to better understand and grow close to God.
This month, I encourage you to enjoy the Sabbath. Create beautiful, laughter-filled memories with your family. And remember to honor the God of laughter.