by guest blogger Michele Olson from Lake Girl Publishing
Have you ever loved an episode of the iconic TV masterpiece, I Love Lucy? Whether it’s the chocolate factory, stomping the grapes, or one of the many hijinks that Lucy and Ethel arrive at every week, the show has given countless people a ton of laughs.
The Bible talks about laughter in Proverbs 17:22 from The Message (MSG):
A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. Laughter can lead to a cheerful disposition.
I like to envision Jesus laughing. We get a hint of that when he talks about the children in Matthew 18:
“Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.”
When he talked about this, he was with a child. Can you imagine Him enjoying the child before He made this statement – laughing and playing with the little one?
And from Mark 10:16
“Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.
Our Lord loved play, children, and laughing! We don’t often envision Him like that, but as a human, he had those moments, too.
As God, He loves everyone. As Jesus, He had people whose company He enjoyed while on earth. A good example is His friendship with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept as we read in John 11:35. He wept in His humanity. It is possible He was thinking back to their times of laughter and fun. He was engaged with them as true friends and the sorrow on their faces brought Him to tears. Jesus knew firsthand every emotion we will ever experience.
Being a Christian is serious business, we are about the work of the Kingdom. But, let’s remember that within that calling, is the joy of laughter and humor. If you look closely, you’ll see the Holy Spirit puts moments in your path to make you smile, really smile.
When we are told in Scriptures that every tear will be wiped from our eyes, perhaps the next moment will be the biggest moment of laughter and sheer joy that we’ve ever known!
Enjoying the laughter in life, along with the sorrow is a big reason I wrote Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy), my novel that takes place on Mackinac Island in 1979. There’s romance, suspense, and an I Love Lucy loving nun! It’s a faith journey through the main characters who love to watch I Love Lucy together. If you wonder if it’s a book that might bring a smile to you, here are a few questions that will help you find out!
- If you relish in re-enjoying or discovering new places, you’re gonna to love it! (Mackinac Island)
- If you love a clean romance with mystery, almost cozy, but no murder, you’re gonna love it!
- If you love Old Hollywood and have seen your share of black and white movies, you’re gonna love it!
- If you love watching I Love Lucy and new insights from “fellow” viewers, you’re gonna love it!
- If you love all the great TV and movies that focused on nuns, (Can I get a Hayley Mills, Julie Andrews what what?), you’re gonna love it!
- If you like to see a faith walk of someone who struggles, but in an engaging, authentic, real person way, you’re gonna love it!
- If you love the simplicity of the 70s and a life with no cell phones, you’re gonna love it!
- If you love a Nora-Ephronesque approach to life with a bit of snarky attitude, you’re gonna love it!
It’s my great joy to share Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) with others. Within the story is the greatest story ever told. Remember, our Savior laughed, and you can too. In Him we know ultimate creativity, love, and laughter. Rejoice and laugh! It will do your heart so much good.
About the Author Michele Olson
Michèle Olson has an over-forty-year career in advertising and marketing as a writer in all mediums, with an emphasis in health writing. She has also enjoyed a professional voice career including time as a DJ (yes, even when they still played records!) and has voiced local to national commercials and voice projects.
It has always been her dream to segue into fiction and Being Ethel (In a world that loves Lucy) is the first in a series based on Mackinac Island—a tiny island in the Straits of Mackinac that connect the Upper and Lower Peninsula of Michigan. A visitor there along with her husband for over thirty years, she loves to tell people about this unique place with no cars and plenty of fudge!
A mom, a mother-in-love, and a “Gee Gee” (G as in good), Michèle resides with her husband in the shadow of Lambeau Field, where life around football abounds. She cherishes her faith and family above all and is delighted to take you on this trip to Mackinac Island, a place that has brought her so much respite and joy. This is the first in a series of three novels to be set on the island. Next? It’s a trip back to Mackinac in Being Dorothy (In a world longing for home).
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Twitter @MoDawnWriter
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Email Info@LakeGirlPublishing
Website: LakeGirlPublishing.com
