Recently Matthew has been struggling with missing Grampa. I'll admit, some days are so much easier than others. Even though in my heart, I know where Grampa is and who he gets to see...deep down inside, my selfishness wants him back here with me. But instead of crying all the time about how much I miss him, I try to put on a happy face and bring up the memories that we hold in our hearts and that make us laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, don't you think?
One night when Matthew went to bed he was especially sad. I mean sad to the point that he was wearing a flannel shirt that was Grampa's and it was 80 degrees outside. I'm tellin' ya, the boy was sweating but refused to remove that layer of Grampa from his body. Chris went in to chat with Matthew for a few minutes and they ended up talking about Grampa and his love for chocolate. Love may not even be a strong enough word for how much Grampa liked chocolate. Chocolate was a passion for this man. Chocolate cake with chocolate icing, chocolate ice cream, triple chocolate DQ blizzards, chocolate caramels, chocolate malts...are you seeing a pattern here? Chris, knowing that Matthew shares this same passion for chocolate decided to use this memory to help lighten up the situation. I believe Chris' thought process went something like...
Chris-"Matthew, you know that Grampa doesn't want you sad or upset because he's in heaven. He's getting to sit at that big family table and eat chocolate cake whenever he wants, with GOD! How awesome is that? "
Chris- "But God needed him in heaven and one day we'll see him again and he'll probably be one of the first people to greet you when you walk through the gates, don't you think?"
Matthew- "Yes. Do you think he gets to eat chocolate all the time?"
Chris- "I don't know, I've never been to heaven but I bet he gets to eat a lot more than when he was here on earth."
Matthew- "Man, he's so lucky, I can't wait to go to heaven and eat chocolate with him!"
Flash Forward a few minutes and I enter the picture. As you know, a Mom has to put the finishing touches on ANY "serious" conversation. Whether it be reaffirmation of what Dad said or simply a hug, Mom's have to be involved. So, before I tell you what I said....how many of you have ever heard Bill Cosby's stand up routine about the time when his wife told him to fix the kids breakfast? So Bill went downstairs and the kids were all getting ready for school and looking tired and unhappy and he decided that chocolate cake would be the very best idea for breakfast. It had milk, eggs, wheat...all the major ingredients for a well rounded breakfast. If you've never heard this clip....here's video...
Ok, so the song at the end of this clip is what immediately came to mind. But instead of singing Dad is great, he gives us the chocolate cake...I had to put my own spin on the song. So here I am, in Matthew's room, trying to make him smile and put a sense of laughter into this memory of Grampa...
Ahummm....(that's me, clearing my throat....) "God is great..cha chaaa..cha shhauuahh...He gives Grampa the chocolate cake...bop beepoppbiipp....God is great...bwowweahchipp bawaa...He gives Grampa the chocolate cake..."
Matthew's eyes got huge and then ever so slowly, the edges of his mouth started to curl and he began to smile. Laughter. Sometimes that's all we need to overcome a tense situation.
I read a quote from Jennifer Jones in one of my devotional books and she says, "If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor". Reading that quote makes me think of my Grampa. Oh what the sense of humor he had. He didn't even have to work at trying to make you laugh, he was just gifted to do so. In the simpliest daily routines, he could have you rolling on the floor with your side hurting your laughing so hard kind of laughter. It's one of the many characteristics that I miss about my Grampa. But, I can only imagine the kind of trouble he's causing in heaven getting the angels to laugh.
Oh the stories I could tell to Matthew or even to you about Grampa and how he truly brought the gift of laughter into my life but some memories are meant to hold onto and keep for yourself. I will share this though, no matter what was going on or how much Grampa may have been deteriorating, whenever he answered the phone and was trying to decide who was on the other line, the cackle of my laughter always gave me away. He knew my laugh. That cackle was distintively mine. I miss that. I miss hearing him say, "Well Hi Sweetie" as soon as he realized it was me. BUT, I'll hear him say that to me again when he meets me at the gates of heaven. Head's up Grampa...you'd better have a slice of chocolate cake ready and waiting for Matthew!
Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart. Psalms 97:11
Dear Lord, you have blessed me with so many opportunities to enjoy life and to take time to laugh. Let me continue to be a joyful Christian- one who is quick to smile and quick to laugh. Let me remember the wonderful sense of humor my Grampa showed me through my many memories and let me continue to share the light of laughter with others through his spirit. It is in your strong name I pray. Amen
