My wife and I used to say this to our children, sarcastically, of course. We did laugh with them. There were always jokes and wordplay as they were growing up. We played with words because they were free, and it made them think abstractly. A speaker I heard at a marriage conference highlighted the value of this kind of environment where we deposited “laughter in the walls.”
Now that I am a grandfather, I make it my business every time we visit our grandchildren to make them laugh. This fulfills several purposes: It keeps my mind sharp, it rewards them for listening well, and it makes good memories, which deepens our love over time and distance.
Is there a case for laughter in the Bible?
Before I discuss what we did as a family and what I do now as a loving grandpa trying to make my grandchildren laugh, it might be prudent to highlight what the Bible says about laughter.
I believe laughter is a gift from God. In Job 8:21, we read, “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” In Prov. 17:22, we are taught that “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Ecclesiastes 3:4 states that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” This tells us that there can be an appropriate time to use humor.
Jesus used humor in His teaching. He often said things that were humorous to get people’s attention and to make a point about an eternal truth. For example, in an angry diatribe directed against the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matt. 23:24). In another setting, he spoke this vivid word picture: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25).
A closely related word to laughter is joy, which the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology defines as “a delight in life that runs deeper than pain or pleasure.” They continue, “It is grounded in God himself and flows from him (Ps. 16:11). . . The fullness of joy comes when there is a deep sense of the presence of God in one’s life.” Jesus gives us joy. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11). Since there is joy in my life, I want to share it with others in a way that brings them joy also.
Telling jokes keeps our minds sharp
It is well understood that as we get older, we have to exercise our minds as well as our bodies to slow down the natural decline. If we don’t use it, we will lose it.
I have been telling puns (or as they are called now, “dad jokes”) for nearly 50 years, since I was a senior in high school. I learned it from my math teacher, who did it all the time in class. When I taught math for a few years in the early ‘80s, I emulated this practice. After I joined the Army and served around the world, I told more jokes before 9:00 a.m. than most people did all day.
Telling puns, jokes, or riddles takes a high level of mental energy. It takes a decent memory, good listening skills, the ability to make verbal connections, and discernment to know when the time is right to say it. You have to know your audience. They won’t get what you are saying if they are too young or if they do not understand the connections you make. It takes a quick wit. Some can do this kind of thing quite naturally, but for others, it might take years of practice.
Humor is a reward for children who listen well
After I graduated from college, I taught math at a junior-senior high school. I also taught at a Christian junior-senior high school. I would often use humor in my classroom instruction, just to see if anyone was listening. Those who were paying attention got the joke. Those who weren’t said, “Wait, what did I miss?” Occasionally, I would put a pun into one of my tests just for fun.
As a grandfather, I often say funny things just to make them smile. One example is what I do with my oldest grandson, whenever he brings up one of his favorite subjects, “Minecraft.” When he says that word, I ask him if it’s “Minecraft” (pointing to me) or “Yourcraft” (pointing to him). If he was listening, he will get what I said and will play along. I am amazed at how perceptive my grandchildren can be. If this helps them be better listeners, it will have been worth the effort.
Another benefit to listening for word play is that the little listeners learn how to say funny things themselves. The best illustration I can give is something I said many times to my grandchildren. I frequently called them “punkinheads.” During one summer visit to our home, I was reminding my granddaughter that we would be visiting them in a few months, where we would pick apples and pumpkins, which we do every October. Without any prompting, she put two and two together and said that if she was a punkinhead, then I was an “applehead.” Absolutely brilliant!
Making them laugh makes lasting memories
My dad’s dad died while he was in college. My mom’s dad died when I was about seven or eight, so I don’t have a lot of memories of him. However, I can still see him doing the standard magic trick where he pulls his thumb off. I also recall him pulling coins out of my ears, too.
I have a fun thing I do with my grandchildren that I used to do with our children. They quickly picked it up. I start with “I one a skunk.” (it is not supposed to make sense.) The next person says, “I two a skunk,” then three, etc.. When you get to “I eight a skunk,” the person who started it replies, “Eww! You ate a skunk!” Much laughter ensues. They want to do it again right away.
This simple, silly routine, done multiple times during holidays and on weekend visits, has made for some good and lasting memories with our grandchildren. These memories have kept us close over time and distance since we only see them a handful of times each year. It gives each of them something to look forward to when their Nana and Grandpa come to their house for a visit.
Closing challenge
I trust that what I shared was somewhat humorous, helpful, and inspiring.
I would like to leave you with a few practical applications, especially for those who may not be a natural at this or may not have developed their sense of humor to a high level. Here are a few fairly easy things to start with that might make your grandchildren giggle or smile:
- As you read them a well-known bedtime story, modify it slightly to make it more fun; change the name of a character, use silly voices, or mispronounce an easy word; see if they notice the difference
- When you push them on the swings, do it from their front; pretend they kicked you in the face when they come back and fall down (this is one of our grandchildren’s favorite activities)
- Pretend you misunderstood what they said (similar to what I wrote about Minecraft); if they ask for help with spelling, tell them you will be happy to help them with smelling
- Make up silly songs; you can change the lyrics of a popular song or create original ones
One last thought. Making visits with your grandchildren a fun experience has a way of modeling what we would hope would be the main goal of their Christian walk. We want them to learn to enjoy their relationship with God. This is what the Westminster Shorter Catechism states is “the chief end of man.” I know there are plenty of serious things that we could and should talk about, but if it is not an enjoyable visit filled with countless smiles and laughter, will they look forward to our next visit?
We do laugh in our family. I trust that there is plenty of laughter in yours as well. There is plenty of sadness in this world. Let’s bring some of the joy of the Lord to our grandchildren, shall we?
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Russ Gehrlein
Featured Image by Benjamin Elliott on Unsplash
