The Gummy Bear Chronicles...

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It's hard to keep a straight face around my boys...even in Church. I'm sure I'm going to be struck by lightening one of these days because of my irreverent behavior in the Lord's house. Sometimes it is hard being a parent. When Kevin and I were first married, he was laughing at his young cousin's little antics when his Aunt scolded him saying he was encouraging negative behavior. What am I doing as a parent when I laugh at my kids little antics? Even in church?

Recently in church we sat next to TJ's best friend. She had brought a bag of gummy bears to share, much to her mother's dismay. We shared those sweet, chewy bears like a bunch of two year olds that can't go an hour without a snack. My boys began to play with their food like the two year olds they were emulating. Licking the bottom of a gummy bear so it would become sticky, my oldest, mind you, stuck it to the suit clad shoulder of the man in front of us without his even knowing. A snort could be heard coming from me as I tried to stifle a laugh. I scolded as I tried to hold it in, thus encouraging more negative behavior. A little girl sitting in front of said gentleman, was pointing at the gummy bear.  He mistakenly thought she was pointing at him.  As he leaned forward to see what she wanted, the gummy bear stayed planted and leaned forward too.

Have you ever tried to quietly hold a laugh in?  The harder you try the more you want to just bust out laughing?  The laughter was escaping my body through the tears that were running down my face and the sob that burst from my throat.  I'm hoping others may have thought I was deeply moved by the Spirit with my sobs and tears.  I mean Charity is a very moving topic.

I truly hope the Lord has a sense of humor, otherwise, I'm screwed!