LOL Devotions

Normally I'm a proper and dignified mother. Really.

I've even been known to serve brussel sprouts to my family. I may not be president of the Parent-Teacher Association, but I do show up for parent-teacher conferences. I may not diligently nag my kids to floss their teeth, but I do take them to the dentist.

I'm not supermom, but I pretty much have things under control.

Usually.

I think that's why everyone was so surprised when it happened:

We had finished dinner and I turned to Hosea 3. We'd read chapters 1 and 2 the nights before, and you'd think the outburst would have happened then, while reading about the sensitive topic of adultery—and it would have been immature teenagers who got out of line. But it was the raisin cakes that got me.

The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."

I started laughing. When I tried to explain what was so funny, I realized I simply had no explanation, and so began laughing even more. "Sacred raisin cakes!" is all I managed to sputter. Everyone smiled a little, and looked at my husband to see if he were secretly dialing for help from strong men in white coats.

I tried to compose myself to read on, but to no avail. Tears streamed from my eyes and I giggled hysterically. I felt like a little girl in church trying to keep quiet after hearing the pastor say "virgin." I just couldn't get myself under control. Before too long, everyone was laughing.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

We didn't finish our devotions, and I was still chuckling while trying to fall asleep that night.

Hosea is actually one of my favorite books of the Bible, which I explained to my kids the following evening when I was back to my sane self. It's one of the most powerful stories of God's relentless pursuit of us, and I'm always brought to tears by it. (Just not usually tears of laughter.) 

I absolutely do not deserve the love of God, and yet he lavishes me with it freely and unconditionally, transforming me into a new person. We have strayed from him, but he calls us back and transforms us into his beautiful bride. I choke up even as I write it. God loves me! He loves us! I can hardly take it in. While the giggles may seem like an unusual response, gratitude is certainly fitting!

And if gratefulness were expressed in laughter, LOL devotions would be a common occurrence.

Just imagine how fun Thanksgiving Dinner could be! 

Have you ever gotten an unexpected case of the giggles? When is the last time you delighted in God's love for you?

by Heather Gemmen Wilson