The Best Devotions of Marilyn Meberg (Paperback)

Chapter One

Let me hear joy and gladness. Psalm 51:8

Now that I'm living in the desert in a condominium, I haven't been in such proximity to other people since dorm life in college. And frankly, I love it! I like to be surrounded by people; I like to hear occasional plumbing sounds, human voices, and even know what my neighbors are watching on TV. (I don't always approve of their choices, but I suppose people have the right to be wrong on occasion.) I find all this closeness rather comforting. Plus I've also gotten some wonderful giggles as a result.

For example, my neighbors to the left (Bob and Julie) are warm, sociable people who love to laugh and entertain. Several days ago I noticed through the window (the window is directly behind my desk, so I occasionally swivel around just to keep in touch) that Bob was putzing around with a mechanical green frog that is supposed to croak when you get within two feet of it. It continues to croak until you leave its "croak space."

Apparently, this frog was not performing properly and in exasperation Bob called into the house to Julie, "This frog has truly croaked. It won't make a sound." I smiled at this clever pun and swiveled back to work.

Yesterday my friend Pat came over with her little dachshund, Mr. Hobbs, to go on our scheduled walk. As we came out the front door, Mr. Hobbs noticed Bob's green frog on the front stoop. Hobbs bristled, did his deep-throated growl (which never sounds threatening-he must hate that), and stealthily crept toward it. Not knowing that Bob had replaced the mechanically dead croaker with one that functioned, I was as startled as Mr. Hobbs when it started croaking loudly. Hobbs jumped straight into the air and dashed behind Pat for safety.

Last night, returning from a wild and woolly night at the movies, I made my uncertain way in the dark to my front door. I'd forgotten to leave the porch light on and apparently entered the croak zone unawares because my presence set the frog into a frenzy of croaking that did not stop until I got inside. I giggled to myself as I realized I would never be able to sneak in and out of my own house as long as this vigilant green frog was on duty.

This frog provides me with yet another example of my theory that the giggles in life usually come from little things. If we train ourselves to look for them, see them, and then giggle with them or even at them, we get a "perk." Seeing these potential breaks from routine sometimes requires that we adjust the lenses through which we see life. That adjustment can be as simple as heightening our awareness of the quirky and unusual around us. Giggle potential is everywhere; we just need to slow down long enough to see it.

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Lord Jesus, without our knowledge of you and salvation from you, we would be unable to truly 'hear joy' or feel gladness. You are the source of our peace, the foundation upon which our security rests, and the inspiration for finding gladness in the dailyness of our lives. May we experience more God-given gladness as we celebrate the days you have ordained for us here on earth. Amen.

(Continues...)