Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” – Genesis 21:6

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 12, 2018): Genesis 21

Robert Frost insisted that “If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.” We need to laugh. We need to see the lighter side of life. When we don’t, things go terribly wrong. Reports emerged from the G7 meeting last month (June 2018) which make me want to laugh or cry. Laughing might be the healthier choice. Stories like the one where President Donald Trump tosses Starburst candies at German Chancellor Angela Merkel adding the comment “Don’t say I never give you anything” cause concern. I hope somebody laughed when it happened and celebrated the absurdity of the moment. Hopefully someday, looking back on the events of June 2018 G7 conference, we will be able to find the humor in the situation.

Originally, Sarah scoffed at the suggestion that she would bear a child in her old age. She didn’t believe that such a thing was possible. She laughed. And the angel who brought the message heard the laugh of Sarah. He repeated his prophecy of Sarah impending pregnancy and added that Abraham and Sarah would name their newborn son Isaac, a name which means “He laughs.” It was a gentle admonition that reflected Sarah’s unbelief.

But now, as Isaac is born, Sarah turns the name into an expression of joy. His name is Isaac because God has brought me laughter. And when my friends hear that an old woman has given birth to a son, they will laugh with me. The idea that a child could come from me is absurd and worthy of laughter.

The truth is that Sarah had had precious little to laugh about during the latter part of her life. She was childless. Therefore she was powerless to give her husband an heir that would come from her own body. Sarah probably didn’t laugh much. The bursts of jealousy between her and Hager and her son, Ishmael, might reflect that the situation was too much for her and was slowly causing her mental health issues. Sarah needs to laugh. Not a laugh of disbelief that she gave to the angel a year earlier, but a laugh that rocked her body and filled her soul with joy. And now, that was exactly what God had given to her – a son and the ability to really laugh.

So, when life greets you laugh. Laugh with the birth of your child. Laugh when a world leader throws candies at you. Laugh for no reason. After all, it is better than the alternative.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 22