Sunday 27 March 2022

Lent Reflection #4 - Laughing Innocently

looking again, learning graciously, leaving deliberately 
but what on earth do I mean by laughing innocently ??

Today is Mothering Sunday, and for many people that is as much about the children as it is the Mums. 

I love it when my Granddaughter Jess or my great-nephew Arthur start chuckling. They cannot talk yet, but are clearly amused when adults blow raspberries, or tickle their toes. The happy laughter of children in the playground brings a smile to our faces. 

But think about the adjectives we often use for laughter 

  • unkind laughter in the sports lesson when somebody fumbles a catch
  • cynical laughter in Parliament when somebody on the other side says something
  • wicked laughter [ok I have only seen this on TV dramas] when somebody is hurt, or killed
  • nervous laughter from someone who isn't sure how to handle a tricky situation
  • forced laughter when a person wants to seem polite-but doesn't find it funny
  • hysterical laughter when somebody has absolutely lost control
  • laugh-out-loud laughter when we are really amused
I want my laughter to represent pure joy - and never at the expense of anyone else's misfortune. Laughing with people, not at them. Laughing because it is a way to express my happiness. 
Children get that - their laughter is innocent, and gleeful.
There's lots of sadness around - but sometimes it is wonderful to be able to laugh together
Look at these two happy little cousins on the slide together - chuckling and waving. 

Sometimes we need to be more like little children!

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for that, Ang. It's given me food for thought.

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  2. It’s also said laughter is the best medicine!

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  3. 🤣🤣 Definitely a balm for the soul

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  4. There is also Holy laughter, which I experienced many, many years ago during prayer for healing at an event held by the Anglican Fellowship of prayer. I was healed of something troubling me and found myself laughing and laughing. It was not uncontrollable, I could stop when I was ready to. The Anglican priest who prayed for me said that he felt that he was blessed, too.

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  5. Healing is indeed a reason for joy

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  6. As a retired teacher it was difficult to explain to some children that laughing could be a form of bullying.

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