For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
-Hebrews 4:12
Welcome to Family Faith and Fun Fridays! As the week winds down and I anticipate more family time over the weekend, I often ask God for one good idea that will enable me to bring the Word to life and bring our family together. Usually, the activity overflows out of something the Lord has been teaching me through His Word during the week. I’d like to invite you to join me and my family in the adventure. Sometimes I’ll post things we’ve tried; other times I’ll post an idea in the works. If you’ve got thoughts to add or suggestions on how to adapt or improve the activity, please don’t hesitate to comment. Enjoy!
Just for the Fun of It
Lately, I’ve been plucking through C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. This masterpiece of satire was penned by the amazing mind that created the world of Narnia for children. But this is no children’s book. It is, instead, a thought-provoking and abrasively funny look at the dynamics of human life through the eyes of a demon named Screwtape. In an upside down manner, Lewis slyly explores the true nature of faith through the imagined correspondence between the old world-wise demon and his young nephew Wormwood who is trying to learn the ropes of devilry.
What struck me most this week in Lewis’ ironic tale is his insightful commentary on the power of laughter.
In one letter, Screwtape warns Wormwood to never assume that laughter is a sign of a flippant faith, for the cause of a human’s laughter may quite simply be JOY. While the old demon doesn’t understand JOY, he has lived long enough to know that it is “dangerous” to Satan’s cause. As Screwtape tries to explain joy-invoked-laughter to his young charge, he writes: “Something like it is expressed in much of that detestable art which humans call Music, and something like it occurs in Heaven— a meaningless acceleration in the rhythm of celestial experience, quite opaque to us. Laughter of this kind does us no good and should always be discouraged. Besides, the phenomenon is of itself disgusting and a direct insult to the realism, dignity, and austerity of Hell.” (p53)
Those words just captured my thoughts this week. Laughter is like something that occurs in heaven. Laughter is a faint echo of the joy to come. Laughter magnifies Heaven’s ethereal beauty on earth. Laughter–the kind that springs from joy–is the frosting on our faith. So, why don’t I spread the sugary sweetness in my own home more often? Why are so many of my days dour? So many of my mothering moments void of joy?
What if sharing a hearty laugh with my children is the most spiritual thing I could do today? What if that melody of joy reminds us that we are blessed? The riotous rhythm of our chortles declares life is a gift. What if laughter spurs gratitude and gratitude breeds contentment. And contentment makes the Enemy quake in the darkness, because contented souls are anchored souls. And anchored souls are difficult to sway.
So this week, I decided to invoke a little laughter. I planned a silly supper just for kicks and soaked in a heavenly melody of giggles and glee. No hidden lesson. No Bible verse slipped into a clever game. Just a sheer shot of joy wrapped in the disguise of fun. And a crew of contented kids who felt loved by their Mummy!
Once the kids had settled into their “mummy chairs,” I served a simple two-course meal. The kids got to choose five items for each course. The combinations on their plates were as entertaining as the names of the mysterious menu items.
Here was our dinner menu (in code of course).
Mummy’s Meal Pit
Your meal has been WRAPPED in love tonight…
Mummy’s Favorite Pet (Dead Dog)
Grand-Mummy’s Fingers
Baby Mummy’s Pointer
Mummy’s Wrap
The Grave Digger
Brain Picker
Chilled Zombies
Mudslide Mummy
Mini Mummies
Mummy’s light stick
Eyeball Stew
Hannah’s first course was heavy on fingers!
Joshua’s was, too!
Maggie didn’t happen to order any silverware with her mudslide mummy, so she became the queen of sticky smiles before the night was through.
She somehow managed to order ALL the dessert items in the first course. Guess who WASN’T hungry for her dead dog?
Luke wondered if the chilled zombie would stumble right out of his hands before he took a swig. Thankfully, there were plenty more if that one wandered away.
A good Mummy has eyes in the back of her head. For this meal, I served the spares on a stick! And Lizzy decided to save the second glance for dessert!
“Fun is closely related to Joy,” Screwtape writes in Lewis’ classic tale. “A sort of emotional froth arising from the play instinct. It is very little use to us… in itself it has wholly undesirable tendencies; it promotes charity, courage, contentment and many other evils.”
Why not plan a crazy meal this weekend? It doesn’t have to be Halloween to remind your kids that their Mummy loves them. Toilet paper is available in every season. So, go ahead, wrap your family in laughter and enjoy the “charity, courage, and contentment” that the melody of Heaven produces right beneath your roof.
By the way, I borrowed most of my mummy ideas from my clever young friend Chelsea. For more theme meals and countless acitvities to spark laughter in your home, check out her mommy’s blog at Families are Fun!
As I was setting the table, a friend called and asked what we were doing. When I told her, she laughed and said, “what does Luke say about that?” I watched him as he participated in the fun and felt so grateful for his willingness to still just be “silly” with his siblings. Sometimes I think that having the little ones makes it more “ok” to be a kid for a while. That’s one of the sweet gifts of the “big family,” I think.
Thanks for being the inspiration behind our laughter!
Chelsea is going to go nuts!!!! She will be thrilled to death to see all of the crazy…AWESOME…fun you had! It looks like a perfect Halloween night! 🙂 I loved to see Lucas involved! As our kids get older they may seem not to want to be a part of these childish activities. BUT…they love it!!! My mom started her Halloween parties (just fun loving ones) when I was in my later high school years. I loved them…my brothers loved them. We are the ones who still continue the tradition with our own families! 🙂
Once the kids had settled into their “mummy chairs,” I served a simple two-course meal. The kids got to choose five items for each course. The combinations on their plates were as entertaining as the names of the mysterious menu items.
Here was our dinner menu (in code of course).
By the way, I borrowed most of my mummy ideas from my clever young friend Chelsea. For more theme meals and countless acitvities to spark laughter in your home, check out her mommy’s blog at Families are Fun! 
As I was setting the table, a friend called and asked what we were doing. When I told her, she laughed and said, “what does Luke say about that?” I watched him as he participated in the fun and felt so grateful for his willingness to still just be “silly” with his siblings. Sometimes I think that having the little ones makes it more “ok” to be a kid for a while. That’s one of the sweet gifts of the “big family,” I think.
Thanks for being the inspiration behind our laughter!
Chelsea is going to go nuts!!!!
She will be thrilled to death to see all of the crazy…AWESOME…fun you had! It looks like a perfect Halloween night! 🙂
I loved to see Lucas involved! As our kids get older they may seem not to want to be a part of these childish activities. BUT…they love it!!! My mom started her Halloween parties (just fun loving ones) when I was in my later high school years. I loved them…my brothers loved them. We are the ones who still continue the tradition with our own families! 🙂