Spotlight 3 – Love, Live, Laugh, Learn, and Leave a Legacy

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:4 …there is a time to laugh…..there is a time to dance.

     Granny always said,” Laughter is the best medicine.” How right she was.  Whenever there was a struggle or grief in the family, she always tried to place a funny spin on it, to lighten the load.

   My mom, sister, cousin Joan and I, always had the Granny Edith laugh. I claim it proudly, for in my family, it’s an expression of love and joy.

   My very social nature is attributed to all of the family fun that occurred in my youth. I lived on a 15 acre abode, in the country. Our little farm was in Montgomery, a suburb of Cincinnati. Every weekend, from Memorial Day thru Labor Day, the family picnic was at our place.

       Those were the days before technology. Those were the days when we actually spent time together. With my very German ancestors, weekends were filled with laughter, fun, softball, cards, bad mitten, German Potato salad, beer, brats, and even Limburger Cheese.

  On Xmas Morn, my cousin called me. We laughed and reminisced about those days gone bye. All of that laughter and playfulness is what helped to form our characters.

  It also taught us to live on the edge of the ridiculous at times. You should see some of those old family movies.

  With my Girlfriends, laughter is essential.

Ten years ago, my Girlfriend Group went to Myrtle Beach for a week. Talk about zaniness. We all bought these full-length tee shirts. Imprinted on them were glorious youthful bodies wearing bikinis. As we walked the beach together, heads turned as people responded to our hilarity.

   I have a zillion hilarious girlfriend stories, but one really sticks out. Just as you have to create your own happiness, you must create your own laughter, as well.

   My girlfriend Gracie, was struggling with a family issue. She needed some girlfriend time to lift her spirits. With my hubby milking cows, I learned to be a very independent woman, so I was allotted some time to do my own thing. ”OK, Girlfiend…I’ll pick you up. Let’s go play.”

   So on a warm springtime Fri. eve, we took off towards Dublin. We were clueless about what mayhem we were going to create. Just creating harmless fun, was our goal.

       As we drove into town, there was a young man grilling outside this coffee bar.  So to be silly, as we pulled up to him, I rolled down my window and said,” I’ll take 3 cheese burgers 4 fries, a sub, two chocolate shakes, and a coke to go.” Obviously, being a youngster of 20, he was clueless about the Dick Clark/Fonzie era and drive –in restaurants.

       We were laughing hysterically, as he stood there with his mouth gaping. We took off, did some shopping, played around at Hobby Lobby, drove through Steak N Shake, then came up with another zaney idea.

    We bought an extra shake, walked into the restaurant where the 20 yr. old grill man was working. I asked at the counter if we may see him for a second. As he walked out, you could visualize what he was thinking. “OMG! What do those two crazies want with me?”

     We handed him the shake, laughing hysterically and said, ”You had us at hello. You had us at hello!”

Poor kid, he didn’t know what hit him.

Yeah, I know…you had to be there…but it was harmless fun.

   As a Kindergarten Teacher for 26 years, I made the following my mission statement: In my classroom, my Little Ones will Learn, Love, and Laugh daily. I gave every child a nick name, in order to make them feel special. This was the result of having nuns for 12 years. OMG..LOL.. Catholic guilt was a real thing.

  I can’t tell you how many times we played The Laughing Game in my classroom. It’s just a zaney game that I created on a 5yr.old level. I’d read to them in character voices. I’d also use my puppets to teach them creativity and playfulness. I wanted my students to be excited about learning and attending school.

    So many of the students that I taught, lived in poverty. Sometimes my “I love yous” and hugs were all the positive emotion they received that day.

  Every morning after the Pledge of Allegiance we would say the following Kindergarten Pledge.

I am the BEST.

Just as good as the REST.

I am SPECIAL,

And Mrs. Cutler Loves ME!

 My kids honored me when they often said, “Mrs. Cutler, your so funny.” My goal was to make those Little Ones laugh and love school.

I have to allocate the rest of this article to my Dear Friend Deb, who passed from cancer last eve. She was the Preschool Teacher in the room next to me for 10 years. She had this wonderfully outrageous laugh.

       Her laugh was infectious. There would be times, we could hear her laughing next door. What a gift she was to so many! If I was having a tough day and needed some uplifting, I’d head next door and say, “Make me laugh, Sis.” Trust me, she filled the bill.

 My guess is, the Lord is now having her teach the angels how to laugh.

    Make it your goal to laugh about something everyday.

May The Good Lord teach you, may The Spirit Reach you, and fill your soul daily with LAUGHTER.

  Love and Prayers,

Sue Cutler

Fearless Faith