childloss Archives – Facets of Faith

It’s all giggles here at Facets of Faith this month, something the three of us do quite well. This month we’re sharing how we see God’s humor through our lives. Be sure to check out Tracy and Jen’s posts before you check mine out below!

My husband loves to make me laugh. He tickles me, tells silly stories, sends goofy memes and gifs all to entice a giggle or two. I used to think he was plain goofy, but now I realize he simply delights in making me laugh and seeing me smile. And I’ll tell you a secret, I bask in his delight, even on days I may roll my eyes more than giggle.

There’s been much heartache up until these middle years of mine. Death, divorce, heartbreak. It’d be easy to stay sullen and allow bitterness to take root. After my daughter died, I prayed against that. I didn’t want to become that bitter woman who lost her joy even though death snatched her daughter away. I didn’t want to stay focused on all I lost, even though it was considerable. I wanted to embrace what was good. And in the goodness were hidden moments of laughter.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 NLT

I remember hanging in the hospital about a week after fire destroyed our home. The visitation and celebration of my daughter’s life were over, space where stories of Emma’s love for her family, her giggles at all things flatulence, and her simple joy of animals were shared. We giggled through tears as we remembered Emma jumping on the bed as little toots escaped her behind.

The long days of grief loomed before me while we still waited on news about her dad, who had suffered burns in the fire. I stood with my brother, making plans about, well, something. I can’t seem to remember what it was, but I do remember the laughter that took us both by surprise.

That’s the funny thing about grief – it robs us of certain memories while illuminates others. I remember telling my brother I’d look something up on the computer once I got home. It took a moment for my statement to catch up with reality.

Home. My home was destroyed by fire. Call it hysteria, lack of sleep, or a precious gift of laughter to lighten the moment, but my brother and I started giggling as I pretended to plug in the computer at various heights in our wall, searching for power. Where in the world would it fit? The wall no longer existed.

I know, you had to be there. But that’s what laughter and humor is about at times, isn’t it? A moment when you are fully present as a comment or look tickles your funny bone. And then the giggles begins to erupt from the depth of your broken heart until it spills out to those around you and you realize you’re able to endure a little while longer.

I still giggle as I remember that moment, that gulp of fresh air at the beginning of the long road of grief. A tender gift shared with my brother from the One who created laughter.

Have you ever thought about that? Where laughter began? Do we learn to laugh or is it something God instills in us, creating this gift that not only allows us to endure life, but enjoy it? Not sure? Jump over to YouTube and search “baby laughs”. Then be prepared to laugh . . . for hours, because baby giggles are. the. best. Don’t believe me? Try it. I dare you. (insert winky-eye emoji here)

As I think about this gift of laughter, another reality begins to settle. If I enjoy laughter and giggles, and Scripture says that I’m made in God’s image (Genesis (9:6), then surely that means God enjoys laughter, too. Doesn’t that mean that maybe, somehow, He laughs? That He might even delight in my laughter? In yours?

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17, NLT

Allow that to settle over your weary or heavy burdened heart for a moment. God delights in you. He loves to see you laugh, and even creates moments to bring laughter to you. Think about a giraffe or a platypus (Jen talked about this last week). Or a rainbow decorating the sky after a storm. Have you ever sat in wonder as giggles erupted within your soul in pure joy of God’s goodness? Of His creativity?

I think that’s why God gave me my husband and his sheer delight in making me laugh. I think God gifted this man to me as a physical reminder of His delight in me. Of redeeming the tears and the sorrow that has filled much of my adult life. Of providing a tiny glimpse of the joy and laughter that awaits me, that awaits us, once we’re in His presence at home.

Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride.” Isaiah 62:4, NLT

How has God shown you His humor? When have you experienced the gift of laughter?

Join the conversation, or even share a memory or two by posting below or jumping over to our Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you!

We’ve been talking about God’s resurrecting power here at Facets of Faith this month. Tracy and Jen shared their perspectives earlier this month and you don’t want to miss them. Now it’s my (Kim’s) turn. Ready?

I don’t like to feel out of control. That feeling of powerlessness, an inability to influence or change circumstances or, to be honest, even people around me.

Call me a control freak, with this desire to order and maintain my world. These feelings of powerlessness that sneak up on me, but like everyone, there’s a story behind these impulses. I know all too well what it feels like to be utterly helpless, completely powerless, and it scares the life right out of me.

It happened one day about twelve years ago. I left my home thinking all was normal, as my every day life could possibly be. I forgot something on my way to work so, in my typically optimistic fashion, I turned my car around and determined this was simply more time to listen to a message from one of our pastors.

Little did I know what was happening as I turned my car back that morning. Little did I know the scene I was about to drive upon would change everything. My family. My home. My life. Nothing would be the same.

Fire poured from the home I left just twelve minutes earlier. My home that still held my precious Emma and her daddy.

I remember standing on the driveway feeling utterly powerless, the crushing weight of what I lacked to stop the scene unfolding before me. The fear that snatched my breath away. The horror that my daughter may have breathed her last. The crushing reality that my greatest fear just became my living nightmare.

My heart shriveled up and threatened to die that day fire destroyed everything. But somehow, in some way, it continued to beat and pump living-giving blood. It continued to beat as the doctor told me Emma died. It continued to beat as her daddy struggled against pneumonia and third-degree burns. It continued to beat as I stood next to her little white coffin and stroked her tender cheek that no longer held the warmth of life.

My heart betrayed me as it continued to beat and pump, reminding me that life continued on even though death made its unwelcome departure with my little girl.

Powerless.

Never as a mom, as a woman, as a person did I feel so utterly out of control. I never expected this. I feared it. I prayed against it. I never expected to bury my daughter. And that weight of grief, those unexpected blows as wave after wave pummeled against my wounded body caused me to gasp for each life-sustaining breath.

How do you survive the dark days your deepest fears come alive? Maybe you, too, have walked the treacherous road of losing a child or a spouse, your health or your job. How do you find your footing when you’ve been knocked to your knees? How do you choose life when all you taste is death?

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18, NLT

I clung to the One who not only gives life, but who resurrects it. The One who takes dead, lifeless things and creates life by breathing into dry bones (Ezekial 37:5). The One who conquered my greatest fear with a single crushing blow as He hung on the cross and triumphed over death. I was powerless, without control, but I knew the One who loves me, who not only has power but is the source of power, and I held on to Him for dear life. Literally.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13, NLT

His is the power that fed thousands of people with few loaves and a couple of fish. His is the power that silenced the seas and called a dead man from the grave. His is the power that healed diseases and stopped years of bleeding. His is the power that conquered death once and for all.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT

That power . . . that resurrecting power changes everything. And it’s not just for then, those days Jesus walked the earth or as his disciples performed miracles. God’s resurrecting power that rose Jesus from the grave is available for us today. Now.

His resurrecting power heals the deepest wounds and shines bright in the darkest of places. His resurrecting power declares goodness despite brokenness, and offers hope in despair. His resurrecting power breathes life, restores shattered hearts, and revives lost dreams.

He saved me. His resurrecting power revived me. His power gives me strength on the days I miss my girl the most and shifts my gaze from all I lost to all He has in store for me. His resurrection power breathes new life, life that I enjoy and embrace all the days my feet will walk this earth. And He gives me hope, hope that death and destruction do not have the final say. He does. And that same power He gives me is available for you. Will you choose life?

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” Ephesians 3:16, NLT

How have you experienced God’s resurrecting power in your life? Join the conversation and leave a comment or jump over to our Facebook page to share there.

Suffering and the Delight of God

God’s Resurrecting Power: From Death to Life