That 15-year-old Laugh Thing

An exert from one thousand gifts..."For God is happiest of all. Joy is God's life. Don't I yearn for it to be mine?"

We were always together, and when we weren't together, we were on the phone...together. Our fab 5 was like family, only hand picked by us. At 15, I had less wisdom than most and more wild dreams that at least kept me running.

But when I think about a time in my life when I laughed. I mean, just

threw

my

head

back

and

laughed...

it was then.

This fab 5, we were unstoppable. Not focused on what we lacked, just living in the now. I would come home with stomach aches from all the laughing. That Andy, he wouldn't give up for a second. Always had us tearing up from laughing so hard.

So, I've been thinking about those times and the dynamic of it all. Just a bunch of kids with love in our hearts and a confidence that we knew who we were. We were accepted by each other. Oh no, we were not even close to the same. But it didn't matter. Every person had a respect for the others' gifts.

Like the gift of making other people laugh.

Today I am thankful for laughter. There have been moments when I'm playing with Eva and the day is just "eh", so I will just start laughing with her. I mean, you really have to muster it up when you're feeling "blah", but it completely changes your spirit. Laughter.

Go on. No one is watching. And if they are, well, they probably need a little more joy in their life too. Lighten up. Smile. Remember all you DO have. Choose to not think about all you don't have. Laugh.