Child-like Faith: Cry and laugh

Cry and get over it; laugh and not get over it.

This phrase is number 8 on the list of the characteristics of a Child-Like Faith that we're working our way through. This one speaks of attitude (to me). To me it reminds us to let the grief happen and then end; let the laughter soak into our souls and change us.

When children are small, and something happens that hurts them, the tears come. When our boys were small, and they would fall and get hurt, Steve and I would look at each other and say, "Here it comes"! The tears would come easily, and then would easily be gone (sometimes with the necessary application of love and band-aids).

When Josh was an infant and Grant was three, Grant discovered that he could make his brother laugh. It as a delightful afternoon, as Grant smiled and Josh laughed. I see that in their father and uncle. At family gatherings, when Steve and Bob get started, we all look at each other, and say, "here they go!" The laughter is infectious, and it is part of who they are.

Grief does change us, and we need to let the tears come. We can learn from pain and we can move through it - but on the other side is brighter times - happiness. Laughter we can hold on to. Laughter we can not get over, and we are better for it.

And I think our faith can help us to do this - to cry and move on; to laugh and hold on.