I have many problems in my life. I have yet to recognize all of my problems, but I’m sure I will at some point.
That’s why it’s so great to be married to someone like Martha, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. There’s no problem she can’t fix, and I have lots of proof.
There is, however, one problem she hasn’t been able to fix. She says I laugh too much.
I’ve often discussed this with her, and she’s tried to counsel me on how to control my laughter. I try to explain to her that it’s not so much the laughter as it is the giggle.
If I could control my giggles, I wouldn’t have any problem with laughter. She doesn’t get it, and laughs at me.
You must agree, there are many things in this world that are funny. I don’t believe we should overlook them.
It’s so hard for me to laugh on the inside and keep it from getting on the outside. What is inside eventually comes out.
I was laughing about that for the rest of the day. And still, when I think of it, I chuckle on the inside.
The other day, Martha came to inform me she’d be gone for the day, thrift store shopping with the daughters. Looking at me, she seriously said, “Can you get your lunch today while I’m gone?”
That tripped the giggle button. Looking at her while giggling, I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll clean out the refrigerator before you’re home.”
Then I started laughing almost uncontrollably. She, on the other hand, looked at me with her infamous scowl and said, without laughing, “I don’t think so.”
I couldn’t stop laughing as she walked out the door. Several hours later, I was still laughing, and went and looked in the refrigerator to see how much work I had on hand.
When I opened the refrigerator door, I immediately stopped laughing. There at the front was a bowl of broccoli. I know she did that on purpose, and it cured my giggle-itis for a moment.
I had to devise a plan for that broccoli to make me laugh and her scowl. Now the giggle-itis is beginning to turn on.
I think a bowl of apple fritters would be an excellent replacement. This is one of the few items that will make my wife scowl. To see that scowl will be worth all I can offer at this time.
Just the thought of that got me giggling. Thinking more of this it developed into laughter. I just can’t wait to get even.
While I was laughing, I thought of one my favorite Bible verses.
“All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.”
— Proverbs 15: 15
When I think of broccoli I have evil feelings, but the apple fritter thought brings a lot of merriment to me. Then I remembered another passage from Proverbs.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
— Proverbs 17: 22
Dr. Snyder is former pastor who lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, in Ocala, Fla. His email is [email protected]
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