April Fools Day is the day of jokes and innocent pranks around the world. When the kids were home it was interesting here on April Fools Day, to say the least. The sugar was replaced in the sugar bowl with salt. The salt shaker was filled with sugar. My hubby’s water bottle received an Alka-Seltzer tablet to liven things up. The inside basement door which was slightly ajar had a well balanced bucket of water on it so that when opened the kids would receive a shower. Unfortunately my hubby went in first. The hand spray on the kitchen sink was rubber banded so that whoever got a glass of water received a blast of water, too. The list goes on.
Not to be outdone, there were many jokes played on me, too, by my loving family. I had tiny holes punched in soft drink cans so that the liquid would drip on me. My toothbrush was salted and my bed short-sheeted. I even had a message to call Mr. Bayer that had the zoo’s phone number. My keys were strategically placed well over my 5 feet height. The worst were the jump outs. Kids and hubby in the closet, behind the shower curtain, or under the bed just waiting to jump out and scare me or grab me. I could really scream when they did that. One day a year is enough for that foolishness, but not enough for happiness and laughter or the fun memories. We need everyday of every year fir smiles, laughter, and cheerfulness. Don’t you agree? It makes everyone feel better.
The Bible says to rejoice and be glad in the day the Lord makes. We need to really do that. Each day is a gift. Don’t gifts make you happy? Abba wants us filled with joy and happiness. He rejoices in our laughter just like we do when we hear our own children giggling and laughing. Is your home happy? Do your children walk around with smiles on their faces and Jesus in their hearts? Are you happy? Do you know what it really takes to be happy? Don’t be fooled by imitations.
I remember singing the following hymn in church. It was written before the Civil War and talks about a happy home. Times may have changed but the basic things we need to be happy are still the same. To be happy we need God, Jesus, family, love, and Scripture. I couldn’t be happy without any of them. Could you? Don’t be fooled into thinking you can.
“Happy the home when God is there,
And love fills every breast;
When one their wish, and one their prayer,
And one their heav’nly rest.
Happy the home where Jesus’ name
Is sweet to every ear;
Where children early speak His fame,
And parents hold Him dear.
Happy the home where prayer is heard,
And praise is wont to rise;
Where parents love the sacred Word
And all its wisdom prize.
Lord, let us in our homes agree
This blessed peace to gain;
Unite our hearts in love to Thee,
And love to all will reign.”
By Henry Ware, Jr. 1846
“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”
Proverbs 15:13
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22
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