Leap into Laughter
“Seriousness is not a virtue. It would be a heresy, but a much more sensible heresy, to say that seriousness is a vice. It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one’s self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do...For solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light.”
― GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Chesterton was right — laughter is a leap. When the weight of stress, or worry, or pride weighs upon me, I find it much more difficult to laugh. My little kids’ silly antics don’t bring the same joy, my husband’s dad jokes are just annoying, and even my favorite sitcom falls flat. It is so easy as a busy mom to develop a default state of annoyance with the world and our family. When life gets burdensome, we actually have to work at lightening it up. For me, that usually means I need to slow down, unclench my jaw, and hand something over to God.
Chesterton said, “seriousness is vice,” and motherhood is teaching me what he meant. I want to be a mom that my children remember as fun-loving, as laughing at their jokes, and as even being silly. If we can leave them with that impression, we will have given them a joyous childhood.
Don’t wait for life to calm down to lighten up; that’s never gonna happen. Let’s work at it right now. Tonight, no matter how hard your day has been, playfully tease your teenage son, flirt with your husband, and bounce your little toddler on your knee. Do as Chesterton advises - bravely take that leap towards laughter.
-Ally
