I love to laugh. I love jokes and funny stories. My favorite movies are ones that make me laugh–Aladdin, Marx Brothers, Abbot and Costello. Make me laugh and I’ll want you as my friend.
Humor is an amazing thing. In college, I was part of an evangelistic drama team that almost fell apart because of personality clashes and misunderstandings. One night we met together to decide whether or not to continue. At a particularly tense moment, one member uttered a few words that made the rest of us burst out laughing. The tension evaporated. In that moment, we learned we could actually laugh together, and if we could laugh together, surely we could work together.
That moment made a deep impression on me. I found laughter to be one of the most important tools in raising a family. From an early age, I told my kids jokes, explaining the meaning until they understood the humor. As a result, my son’s kindergarten teacher told me he understood humor that went over the heads of the rest of the class. At home, it helped all of us not to take ourselves too seriously. Whenever my daughter put on a good pout, we’d coach her not to crack a smile. “No, don’t even let the corners of your mouth turn up. Hold them tight. Don’t smile. Don’t! It totally ruins the act.” A couple minutes of such coaching was all it took to bring out an embarrassed smile and the pouting was forgotten. Helping kids to see the funny side of whatever irritates or annoys them helps them cope, especially when the annoyance is a sibling. If they can laugh together (with each other, not at each other), they develop a camaraderie that leads to close relationships.
Nicholas Chamfort, a French writer in 1805 is credited with saying, “The most completely wasted of all days is that in which we have not laughed.”
So for your laughing pleasure today, I share this joke which appeared in The Houston Chronicle, written by Walter E. Welsh.
There was some confusion at the local sporting goods store this morning. When I was ready to pay for my purchase of a box of shotgun shells, the cashier said, “Strip down, facing me.” Making a mental note to complain to the manager about the anti-gun people running amok, I did as she instructed. When her hysterical shrieking finally subsided, I learned she was referring to my credit card.
I’ve been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They really need to make instructions more clear for us seniors!
Share a joke or funny story by leaving it in the Comments. Go ahead. Make me laugh.
