“Our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD had done great things for us; we were joyful.” Psalm 126:2-3 CSB
Bursting into the car with excitement, my daughter exclaimed, “Mom, I have a surprise for you, but you will have to wait until Mother’s Day to see it!” Finally as she eagerly anticipated the day, she gave it to me. She had filled out a sheet of things she knew and loved about her Mom. At the age of seven, she had a number of perceptive observations and sweet sentiments. But the one line that really got my attention was, “My mom is funny when_____?_____.” In the blank space she only put a question mark. Though I do enjoy a good laugh as much as anyone, by all means I will be the first to admit that the comedian gene passed me by! Yet conviction drew deep into my soul as I asked myself, when was the last time my daughter saw pure joy and laughter radiating from within me?
The psalmist reminds us that when we recount all that the LORD has done for us, joy will fill our souls. This year we are enjoying a year-long celebration of joy as we commemorate the NOBTS Centennial and 20th anniversary of the Women’s Ministry program. God has done so much, and we are filled with joy! To celebrate all that God has done, we are taking some time to enjoy a night of “Laughter, Truth, and Music” as we have a special NOBTS Women’s Event on March 15 at 7pm in Leavell Chapel. Comedian Anita Renfroe along with special musical guests will be joining us for an evening of encouragement.
When was the last time you experienced pure joy and laughter radiating from within? Life can sometimes be discouraging, overwhelming, and filled with difficulty. Whether life is going great or you feel like you could use a few laughs and maybe even restoration of joy to your soul, we invite you to join us for this free community-wide event. Bring a friend and prepare to have fun as we celebrate with Laughter, Truth, and Music! Our heart’s desire is that you will leave encouraged and full of joy! It just might be what your soul needs!
Dr. Emily Dean serves as Director of Women’s Academic Programs and Organizations at NOBTS.
