Tag Archives: jokes

Getting It

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PB and I got outta town for a few days last week.  I haven’t had a chance to jot down anything since returning home, so I was thrilled when my sister, Robin, sent me this piece.  Here is my first ever guest post on small drop!  Thanks, dear sister, for sharing your story.  We sound a little bit alike!  Enjoy everybody!

jokesOur oldest grandchild just turned nine years old, an age of truly understanding and enjoying a good joke.  He especially likes jokes that use play on words, or words with double meanings.  He went through the stage of making up his own jokes (that weren’t really funny).  We would all laugh because he laughed, not because the joke was particularly humorous.

But now, he delights in telling a good joke.  With great anticipation, he sets the stage and draws us in with a knock-knock joke or a loaded question.  He watches us with knowing eyes as we try to figure out the punch line.  Of course, we have incorrect answers or no answers at all.  Then, with excitement in his voice, he delivers the punch line.  His blue eyes sparkle, his entire face lights up in a big smile, and he laughs joyfully, saying, “Get it?!  Get it?!”  Then, on we go to the next joke or question, repeating the process again and again, always ending with “Get it?! Get it?!”  Such genuine joy is rare.

Perhaps God uses the same methods with us.  He tells us a story — a parable — maybe with a play on words or double meanings.  Then, with great anticipation, He delivers the punch line, hoping we grasp the meaning.

Do you suppose He says to us with great delight, “Get it?!  Get it?!”

“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  Mark 4:23

 

Jokers

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Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.  Proverbs 17:22

PB is a champion storyteller.  He has a whole arsenal of jokes and strange-but-true stories in his memory bank. I’ve always admired his ability to spin a captivating yarn.  The thing is, I’ve heard them all.  After 35 years of marriage I can tell when he’s getting ready to share a joke….and which joke he’s going to tell.  In my head I can relate every story right along with him, word for word.

I, on the other hand, am not a good jokester.  In an effort to be efficient and not waste people’s time, I leave out the embellishments, forego the details, and rush to the punchline.  My timing is off.  I don’t have that mischievous twinkle in my eye that endears listeners.  My anecdotes seem to lack PB’s pizzazz.

The winds of change are blowing as our children and grandchildren settle into their own homes.  PB and I are finding ourselves at a table for two more often.  Our conversation tends to center on work and church — serious stuff.  Sensing that we need to laugh together more, I challenged my man to 30 days of jokes.  New jokes.  Just to keep things fresh around here.  Besides, I found a website with enough one-liners to get me through the month.  I was ready.

It started slow.  The first morning, over our oatmeal, I said, “What did the zero say to the eight?”  PB put down the newspaper, confused.  I could see he was struggling with how to respond so I whispered, “I’m telling a joke.”  Still perplexed by his wife’s unusual question, I prompted him.  “I don’t know.  What did the zero say to the eight?”  He started to catch on.  PB: “I don’t know.  What did the zero say to the eight?”  Me: “Nice belt.”  I figured if I set the bar pretty low, things could only get better.  We shared a laugh.  He tried to pull out an old one on me, but I was firm.  30 days of new jokes.

The second week went better.  PB must have found a website, too, because he started greeting me with funny questions every morning.

“How much did the pirate pay for corn?”  

“I don’t know, how much did the pirate pay for corn?”  

“A buccaneer.”

“What did the three-legged dog say when he walked into the bar?”

“I don’t know.  What?”

“I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.”

I’ll spare you the rest…

 Sharing a laugh every morning has been good for us.

PB is learning some new jokes and I’m working on getting that twinkle in my eye.

A merry heart is good medicine.

laugh