And She Keeps Laughing

I have this amazing friend Toni who works at a radio station and in her spare time heads up community service projects all around her community --- and in her other spare time is working on writing her first book. Like I said, pretty amazing. Toni and I had not caught up in a while, so I dropped her a quick phone call. She began to share about some tough issues with her family, financial struggles, and fighting two brutal forms of cancer. The treatments for her cancer added further complications, as she experienced side effects that the doctor informed her happened with less than three percent of patients. But here’s the kicker: Toni kept laughing while we were talking. Laughing! You could actually hear her smiling through the phone. (I know that you technically can’t hear someone smile, but you definitely know what I am talking about.) I was so confused, I actually started laughing too. When I pointed out this apparent discrepancy between all the heavy things she had been sharing and her contagious joy, here’s what Toni told me: “You can’t always choose what you go through, but you can choose how you go through it.” 

There’s this old story in the Hebrew Scriptures about a lady named Naomi, a Hebrew name which means “pleasant.” After leaving her country due to a famine, Naomi’s husband and both her sons die, leaving her with nothing. When people later in the story refer to her as Naomi, she insists that they give her a new nickname: Mara. What does Mara mean? Bitter. This lady who was once known as “pleasant” has now grown bitter and tries to isolate herself.  Looking at what she has gone through, it’s easy to understand why. Maybe you’ve felt the same way. There is another character in the story, however. Naomi has a daughter-in-law named Ruth, and Ruth has a very different response. Instead of growing bitter, Ruth leans in. She clings to Naomi, and joins her as they together move to Bethlehem. Ruth has experienced just as much loss as Naomi, but she is open to what lies ahead in her journey. Ruth and Naomi are on the same road, but their hearts are in a totally different place. One is bitter, one is open. One withdraws, one leans in. 

You can’t always choose what you go through. But here’s the good news: You can choose how you go through it. And my friend Toni chooses to laugh. 

Question:  So far, 2020 has been a tough year.  Have you experienced bitterness or chosen joy?  

Jeremy Bell is pastor of Grace City Church in Sorrento, FL.  Website:  Wearegrace.city