Carbonated Holiness
Photo Credit
Last Wednesday, Bruce told me he was coming down with a cold, and I threw myself a Pobrecita Pity Party.
For the last 7 days, I’ve succumbed to the worry monster. I’ve pleaded with God to heal my husband. I’ve helicoptered around him with essential oils, a steam inhaler, and 3 prescription meds.
Besides prayer and my team of praying friends, the one thing that has kept me afloat is that Bruce can still make me laugh, even when he is not trying to be funny.
On Saturday, I was up late burning the midnight oil while my congested husband snored beside me. He’d slept fitfully all week due to the incessant coughing attacks, but we’d visited a Walk-in Clinic earlier that day and left with a prescription for a magical syrupy elixir that was supposed to bring him rest.
And rest he did. Until he woke up at 2 AM and decided to go raid the kitchen. I am used to his nocturnal foraging adventures, so I just stayed in bed with my laptop as he disappeared into the darkness.
About twenty minutes later, my semi-loopy husband barged into the room like a Navy Seal on a reconnaissance mission. He was in search and rescue mode in his sleep.
He surveyed the room with his beady, glossed over eyes trying to locate an important item.
“Are you looking for something, baby?” I asked. “Why don’t you come back to bed?”
He slurred a few nonsensical sentences before he uttered one word that made sense. “Milk.”
“Are you looking for the milk, sweetheart? It’s in the fridge. Why don’t you just come back to bed?”
He slithered back into the black of night, and I sat in the bed laughing my head off. Eventually, my cold-infested commando acknowledged defeat and came back to bed.
On Sunday morning, we crawled out of bed and headed to the kitchen for some cereal. Unfortunately, the milk was no where to be found. It had magically disappeared in the middle of the night. We took turns guessing who could have absconded with it — zombies? evil elves? chachkies that came to life while we slept? We spent two days giggling about it until we found the milk under the kitchen sink next to the Windex and Palmolive.
Laughter really is the world’s best medicine. My friend Jennifer and Anita Renfroe reminded me today. As I watched their chat on the importance of intentionally reaching for happiness, Anita mentioned an Anne Lamott quote that made my ears perk up:
Laughter is carbonated holiness.
I googled the quote as it was new to me and came across a Christianity Today article by Carolyn Arends where she further expounded: “Laughter is my favorite form of worship.”
Now, there is a spiritual discipline I’d never considered.
Something to think about…
I love that Anne Lamott quote – and now you’ve connected it with Jennifer’s wonderful book!
There’s nothing like a good belly laugh! It really is good medicine.
Oh, bless his heart, Lyli. Hope he’s feeling 100% soon. This has been quite the battle for him, hasn’t it? Continued prayers. Too funny about the missing milk. Laughter makes such a difference in life…even in the messy of life, doesn’t it?! Never thought of it as worship…hmmm, I like that. 🙂 I’ve been so out of the loop this summer, so I’m trying to catch up, hope you’re doing well. ((hug))
Lyli, your post definitely made me smile this morning! We once found the Parmesan cheese in the freezer, but under the sink has that beat! That is a great Anne Lamott quote, one I’ll remember. Thanks for hosting and have a great week. Hope your husband is doing much better.
Love this post! Milk next to the Windex and Palmolive–now you’ll either laugh or you’ll cry, won’t you? 🙂
I so appreciate Jennifer’s book, and I know the lucky winner of the giveaway will be blessed by it. (I already have a copy, so I won’t enter–increase the odds for someone else!) And I love Carolyn Arends–I’m so blessed to get to work with her in the Renovaré ministry!
Thanks so much for hosting the link-up. I’ve been struck this week by needing to cultivate the spiritual discipline of remembering; I’m glad to have a place to share. Blessings!
I love the thought of laughter as a spiritual discipline! Surely everyone would love that one. 🙂 Finding the milk under the sink is definitely a laughable moment. Hope your husband is much more himself now. 🙂
Oh my word, Lyli!!! Thanks for the good laugh this morning. I was right there on that adventure trying to figure out where I the world Bruce put the milk! ? I used to do the same thing when I was pregnant. I would go to put groceries away, get sidetracked and put things in the most bizarre places. Then I spend hours trying to find them. I loved your statement that laughter is worship. I have never thought of it that way before but rejoicing before the Lord can look like laughter! When I see my kids laugh it makes my heart happy. I’m thinking God thinks the same thing about us. ?
There’s nothing like a good belly laugh. Too often I stay straight-faced. Thanks for bringing laughter to the surface, Lyli. Causes me to consider it and carry it with me today.
love lamott! And the hidden milk! Mark married me for my humor. I need to remember that…
Lyli,
Love that Lamott quote and that you and Bruce were able to laugh. Praying Bruce continues to heal. I know how hard it is to sleep when one is sick. Blessings to you 🙂
Haha, love your story 🙂 Thanks for hosting, I will check out the challenge you posted. Thank you so much!
Best,
Bibi
Oh Lyli – I am so sorry that your dear sweet hubby is/was ill.. I am believing for complete healing for him… but oh, how I love this post — I love the quote, but I love that you laughed and laughed and had more opportunity to laugh – and wow the milk under the sink -what a hoot… hahahaha -things often disappear in our home to and wind up in the most bizzaare places. :)LOL thanks for the laughter today ad the link-up too
Loved this book! So needed right now in our world! I love your story, too, Lyli! My husband is so good at laughter. In the middle of health crisis, he is the one who keeps me laughing. It is a tool to fight off the enemy, for sure!
Thanks so much for hosting, friend!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I like that term “carbonated holiness”!
And your story about the milk turning up under the sink, too funny! hehe
I never thought of laughter being a form of worship. Interesting. Something to ponder.
Thanks for sharing.