When Groucho Marx Shows Up at Prayer Group

There’s something beautiful about gathering with other grandmothers to pray for our grandchildren. The first Monday of every month, we circle up, share our hearts, and bring our precious ones before our Heavenly Father, knowing He loves them even more than we do. It’s a holy moment -- a time when we boldly declare God’s promises over their lives.

We quote scriptures like: Romans 12:9: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We sing old hymns like ’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and feel the peace that comes from placing our trust in Him. There’s power in those prayers. There’s power in that unity. And there’s certainly power in reminding ourselves that God’s got our grandchildren covered.

But you know what else? There’s room for laughter, too.

Because just when I thought we were going to be deep in prayer mode all morning, I stepped into the bathroom and burst out laughing. There it was -- a toilet looking like Groucho Marx, complete with toilet paper “eyes” and an empty roll “cigar.”

My friend, who hosted our prayer group, had set it up just right, and I couldn’t help but think how God must get a good chuckle out of us sometimes.

It was a sweet reminder that while we take prayer seriously, we don’t have to take ourselves too seriously. God made laughter, too, and a little humor goes a long way in lightening our hearts. Sometimes we need to be reminded that a merry heart truly is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

So, while we continue to pray for our children and grandchildren with faith and fervor, let’s also leave room for laughter and joy. Life isn’t just about heavy burdens and solemn prayers -- it’s also about enjoying the quirks and the funny moments that God sprinkles into our days.

Today, I’m thankful for the power of prayer -- and for a God who understands our hearts and our sense of humor. Sometimes, we just need to laugh, pray, and trust that God’s goodness is following us -- even with one of my fellow grandmother who has a great sense of humor!