That's Gotta Hurt!

Day 300 of Photo Inspirations -- That's Gotta Hurt!!!
My daughter,Staci, and I posed for this photo on Saturday -- Staci's caption for the photo "Hmm....that's gotta hurt!"  LOL!  Well, that's just a scarecrow so it's not hurting, but what about us?  That could be said of many of us today, whether we're actually hurting physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually or any other way.  We'll share our "struggling" story and hear in reply ..."That's gotta hurt".  And, we'd think..."Indeed, it does."

But what if those "gotta hurt" times are just the "set up" for the "punch line" that is on its way in our lives? Yesterday, we heard Michael Jr. (a Christian comedian who, is hailed as one of today’s most gifted comedians).  Michael Jr. got his start when George Wallace took him to the legendary Comedy & Magic Club  The club is the home of Jay Leno and “The Tonight Show” staff. The club’s owner slipped the unknown comic, Michael Jr. onstage to perform. A week later, he was performing at the “Just for Laughs” comedy festival in Montreal where he became the first comedian to ever appear live via satellite on “The Tonight Show.”   That performance catapulted Michael’s career.  He explained that for years he'd been practicing for this moment.  Then one day.....he was ready for the BIG TIME.

He explained that as a kid, he and his friend made a pact to help each other stop cursing.  They would punch each other in the chest as hard as they could if they heard each other cursing.  "THAT'S GOTTA' HURT!"  That made him stop cursing because it hurt too much.  And way back then....he was already practicing his "set up" for his "clean" comedy act that would open doors in his future.

He went on to talk about "the things from our past"  -- some of those hurtful things -- the bad relationship, dysfunctional family, the divorce, the illness, the loss of a loved one -- are those very things that God uses to catapult us.   So we practice and practice and then it's GAME TIME!  Our gift will make room for us.  A comedian sets up his story or joke, and then a shift happens that goes the opposite direction and that's when the punch line happens.  That punch line MAKES the joke.  It makes everything make sense.  The "That's Gotta' Hurt" times, as well as "Atta Boy!" times --  God uses it all for good......"the punch line".

God is working in our lives.  There's some incredible set-ups coming.   We must keep practicing right where we are.  Practice makes perfect -- when that door opens, we'll be able to walk right into the destiny and purpose God planned for us all along.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

You Need a Class Clown in Your Life

The Class Clown -- oh, how I wanted to be her. She could make any situation funny -- without even trying. She was my roommate, Lois, at Canyonville Bible Academy in Oregon. She always had me, and others, in stitches. I have a daughter that's like that, too! To this day, she can still make me laugh at the same jokes and stories that I've heard countless times before. And then there's my granddaughter, Lexi, who is a chip off the ole' block. She, too, is a "Class Clown". Her Lexisms have made many FB posts by her mother and me.

I'm better today at creating humor than I was growing up. If there's something going on that seems way too serious, I'll probably make a silly comment that gives some comic relief. And, my attempts at humor have also faltered, as I'd forget the punch line of a joke, or spoken something that I thought was humorous and, as it turned out, my timing was waaay off! Comedic timing is essential!

My nature leans to being more serious, but when a comedian enters the room, I will gravitate to be near him/her. There is so much healing that can be derived from laughter. Yes, we need the serious ones around us -- the ones who make us think and help us to be better. But, we need those merry, jolly, and lighthearted comedians, too -- the ones who can pull out the humor, joy,and lightness, even in dark moments. I'll never forget Father Jack Gleason, who came to our home as soon as my sweet husband passed away. He didn't enter dismally -- he came in and shared with my daughter and I a hilarious situation he had gotten himself into during the day. At that time, we didn't need another sad face -- we needed "joy and light" medicine. Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart does good like a medicine"!

St. Paul said in I Corinthians 12:27 -- "You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." And, quite frankly, some folks are called to be the FUNNY BONE! If you are the funny bone -- go ahead and be funny. Celebrate your wit and humor and know you are a vital part of the family of God. And, if that isn’t you, and humor isn’t your natural "bent", celebrate the funny ones in your life. They need you and you need them.

And if you need some healing today? Laugh. Make someone else laugh. Bring laughter into your home, your life, your friendships. You need a Class Clown in your life because sometimes those are the exact people God uses to bring about the healing you’ve waited for.

So, did you hear the one about what the duck said to the comedian? A: "You quack me up!"