Having a nearly 14-year old son and a 10-going-on 20-year old daughter sometimes sucks the very life out of me. Bad hair days and bad attitudes nearly every day leave me breathless and wondering what happened to the sweet little babies I carried around many moons ago. Just this past week I've been burdened by once stellar grades going down the toilet as 14 is now distracted by a girlfriend and social media overload. And speaking of toilets, 10 finds it necessary to use mine since her commode is "too stinky" to use. It doesn't compute that one of her jobs is to clean the bathroom. To quote one of her favorite retorts, "HELLO?!"
But tonight God gave me a sweet gift that brought bright rays of sunshine to the darkness of recent days. My gracious Lord and Savior revealed to me and reminded me of the love He has given our family. And it all started with some silly comment 14 said that sent 10 and me into fits of uncontrollable laughter. It didn't really matter what we were laughing about, we laughed so hard and so loud and so long and it was absolutely energizing. The silliness lasted maybe 15 or 20 minutes, but it was like manna refreshing my soul. My son even recorded some of this zaniness on his cell phone and saved it as his ring tone. For a few wonderful minutes, there was none of 14's sullen mood, none of 10's defiance - it was just joyous, raucous laughter.
I'm sure the moodiness and rebellion will return again. And I'm just as guilty of PMS induced behavior, no matter what time of the month. But for tonight, my heart is content knowing that the love God has given this family will not be shaken by the storms of life. A family that laughs together loves together.
