HSBC Coffeebreak Devotional

"A merry heart does good like a medicine."
Proverbs 17:22

The evening started off sober. My blind, diabetic grandmother needed some help, and my sister and I decided we'd give my parents a much needed break. We'd go help Grandma this evening. She had some wounds on her legs that needed daily care. She was in her 90's, weak in many ways, but determined not to give up. Diabetes complications made the wound care challenging. We knew Grandma was frail, her skin tore easily, and infections were almost impossible to cure in her condition. We nervously handled the removal of the old bandages from the calf of her leg. We carefully, cautiously cleansed the wounded area, and did our best to keep the new gauze we were to apply, sterile.

Grandma was sitting on a kitchen chair at her table, the place she'd read the Bible (braille) and where she'd sing hymns on her omnichord, the place she often greeted visitors who stopped by... I've seen her in that chair numerous times. She had one leg resting on a stool in front of her. My sister was on one side of her outstretched leg, I was on the other. We began gently wrapping her leg with gauze. We got to a point where we either needed to lift her leg, or she needed to, so we could finish wrapping it.

My sister asked Grandma, if it would be better for us to lift the leg for her (carefully so we didn't tear her skin) or if she wanted to try to lift it herself. Grandma didn't hesitate - she just lifted up her leg on her own strength, quite surprising to both of us.. but in the process, she bonked my sister, who at that point was leaning over Grandmas leg, right in the nose! I couldn't help but chuckle! Grandma was a bit startled for just a second, but then she realized what had just happened. We all started laughing. My ninety year old blind, diabetic Grandma had just kicked my young able bodied sister in the nose! It started as a snicker, then a chuckle, till finally we were all laughing so hard, I thought Grandma might fall off the chair! In that moment, a lot of the tension that previously filled the air disappeared. My sister and I talk about that moment frequently. Such a sober moment turned into a hearty belly laugh in a split second. God is good.

Perhaps I remember this story because it was one of the last hearty laughs I had with my Grandma and sister. Less than a year later, Grandma went to be with the Lord. I'm sure Grandma is sharing many stories and chuckling heartily, filling all of heaven with laughter.

Proverbs 15:15 says, "He that is of a merry heart has a continual feast." Much of life offers sober moments, tentative situations, grueling tasks. It reminds me that God can use a merry heart to lighten a moment that once seemed burdensome. We just need to not be afraid to laugh a little... not take everything so terribly serious.. and go ahead and enjoy a chuckle! Be blessed by a grin and some laughter - God has gifted us with moments to giggle at... don't hold back! Enjoy a "continual feast" of laughter!

Written by
Melody Foster