These days have been difficult. First, it was Sonny’s birthday, then Thanksgiving and now Christmas.  I wrote last time about how I falsely believed it would be easy. Frankly, some days it just plain sucks. Those days are, thankfully, spread out and not every day is a bad day.

When Sonny’s birthday came around, we had dinner together and spent some time in family prayer and worship. It was beautifully difficult. Sweet Charlie prayed and he spoke some powerful words.

Dear God

We miss Papappy, some days we miss him a lot.

But we know he’s having fun with God and being safe.

Around the table, the adults who had been keeping it together so well, burst out into tears and them laughter. It is so hard to envision us having fun with God. We see him as Holy, fierce, solemn, serious, even perhaps sitting up there on His throne waiting to smite us if we do something wrong.

But it is not solely so. God is Holy, Righteous and Just. He is, however, the essence of LOVE. While we were still in sin, He sent Jesus to make things right between Himself and man. He reaches down into our lives and touches us where we suffer and hurt. He is ever-present and true. So much more than we give Him credit for.

I love the movie, The Shack. It brings me to a puddle of tears every time I watch it. Such a beautiful picture of the work of the Trinity in our lives. So, on Saturday,  I was feeling low and felt compelled to watch it again. There are so many pictures of God in there but what stood out to me this time was the God laughed, danced, cooked and ate a meal, generally enjoyed the presence of Mack.And Mack learned to enjoy the presence of God. It was easy for him to be around Jesus. The Spirit was a mystery to him but he did not like God.

Ever since that day Sonny died, I wondered where he went. I was beside him as he exhaled the breath of life from his body and WENT. He didn’t just cease to be, he went. I didn’t really doubt, I was just befuddled. Where did he go, what was he doing? And the image of his last hour of suffering was imprinted on my mind. Terrible, terrible, terrible. But then God gave me the dream. Where Sonny told me he felt so much better, told me to taste and see The FRUIT was good and I saw him with two legs, moving and climbing.

Out of the mouths of children will come truth. Papappy is having fun with God. He is everything there that he was here, bright, witty, intelligent, loving, but he is complete now. I imagine he is able to hold great conversations with God about the mysteries of the universe. God gives us the gift of laughter, makes our mouth turn both ways, and is the giver of happiness and joy. Jesus taught us to pray with these words.

Let YOUR kingdom come and YOUR will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

So I want to enjoy God and if part of His kingdom in heaven is a relationship which includes having fun there, then I want that with HIm here. Why wait?  I choose to thank Him is difficulty and pain. to look around and see the simple beauty of the sky and clouds. To marvel at His handiwork in creation. In so many ways it is that simple. Love God. Love people as you love yourself. Choose love. Choose joy. Choose to turn your lips upward into a smile, even in difficult circumstances. Sorrow and joy are siblings, they come together. You cannot have one without the other.

So I leave you again with a song from one of my favorite artists, Josh Garrels. The chorus of this song, Benediction; Josh Garrels, Benediction

As the days unfold

Hold your breath to see

Life is a mystery

And joy it is severe

When the way is rough and steep

but love will make your days complete.

So go,  let us all have fun with God and Be safe Charlie says it is possible and I trust him.