Articles
A Christmas Whapping
My older brothers had a favourite Christmas tradition. They used to save up cardboard tubes from rolls of wrapping paper and whap me with them until my mother made them stop. In time, our Christmas traditions became less violent. They involved sleeping under the Christmas tree, making Norwegian lefsa, and cramming our house with…
Does God Answer?
Once after scolding my son, I tucked him into bed. He folded his hands, closed his eyes, and prayed, “God, help Daddy be nicer.” You never know what kids will ask for when they pray. Sam asked, “God, I want to be like my Daddy when I grow older, but not with so much hair…
4 Principles for Joy-Filled Friendships
A friend has this on her voicemail: “I’m not available right now, but thanks for your call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.” It is impossible to overestimate the importance of friendship as a spark…
When Another Faith Knocks
A guy came to my door to tell me what he believed. Among other things, he said, “We don’t celebrate Halloween.” I said, “Is that because you don’t like strangers ringing your doorbell?” Two members of a cult came to my brother’s door. He pretended to be deaf, so they went away. My mother had…
Snoopy’s Thanksgiving Lesson
The smell of a roasting turkey was filling Charlie Brown’s house. Snoopy lay outside on top of his doghouse, smelling the aroma, thinking, “It’s Thanksgiving Day. Everybody eats turkey on Thanksgiving Day.” But he just lay there, patiently watching the back door, awaiting Charlie Brown’s kindness, awaiting Thanksgiving dinner. At last, the door opened and…
What Billy Graham Taught Me
Six years ago, Billy Graham passed away. He was 99. I’m sure I heard him preach a hundred sermons in our home through his radio program. Years ago, my secretary said, “George Beverley Shea is on the phone.” I knew he wouldn’t be calling little old me, so I grabbed the phone and said, “Ya…
Where Is Your Hope?
How is your hope meter these days? Your hopemometer. Our elite panel of experts here at Laugh Again laboratories has formulated a quiz to test your HQ, your hope quotient. When reality rattles your cage, will you conquer or cave? Let’s find out. Keep track of your answers. We’ll tally them up at the end.…
Middle Age Memories
Senior citizens are now learning to text. And to abbreviate. BFF means Best Friend Fainted. BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth. CBM: Covered by Medicare. LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out. GGPBL? Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low. When my dad hit 75, he said to me, “Everything’s starting to click for me now. My knees are clicking,…
Lost and Found
Life isn’t fair. I left my cell phone on a plane and never found it. I lost three pounds on a diet and found five more. I lost a sock in the dryer and it somehow joined the other missing socks. That’s what Saturn’s ring consists of, you know? Missing socks. Have you ever lost something important? Maybe you’ve been lost yourself.