Have Some Fun by Ember Sherman

Hi, ladies!

Becky asked me to write a post for the blog well over a month ago. I was excited and freaked at the same time!! I wrote a few things and deleted them. Wrote a few things. Deleted them. And finally just said "God...what do I say!!??"

And I waited.

And this morning it hit me.

There is a video going around of the cutest woman that has gone crazy viral. I'm sure you've seen it. She buys a Chewbaca mask for herself at Kohl's, for her birthday, and then tries it on and is so amused with herself she is in tears!! And you can't help but laugh...or at least smile! I read an article this morning about her explaining where her joy comes from...God! Of course it does! She goes on to share some of the comments she had received...one of them saying I haven't belly laughed like this in over 2 years.

TWO!

That's crazy to me.

One thing I get from people a lot is that I don't look or act my age. Which, I never really know how to take that, but whatever. I love to be a kid at heart. I love to be silly and laugh and have fun! And I see that missing in so many people's lives right now. I mean, that video broke records! Almost a billion views in 24 hours-ish. Which made me think...people want to laugh. They are craving joy and happiness. Something not so darn serious. People want to have fun. God wants us to have fun, have joy, to laugh!

The Bible tells us...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But the righteous shall be GLAD; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with JOY!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Even in the bad times...

“Count it all JOY, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”
James‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Things have become so hateful and angry. We are divided and frustrated. We are busy and tired. We are offended and defensive.

And I'm not immune to this. A little over ten years ago my mom went to be with Jesus and I lost my joy. I lost my excitement for life. And it took me almost 9 years to realize it. It was after watching the movie "Inside Out". I realized my "Goofball Island" had been destroyed by that life event and I needed to rebuild it. I still struggle, but everyday I am working to bring back some of the old me. The happy, fun, joyous me! And boy has it made a big difference in my life and those around me.

So...when is the last time you had fun? When is the last time you enjoyed some simple things in life? When is the last time you belly laughed with your family? Your friends? Your grocery checker? (I just felt like I needed a third and threw a random in there!)

You need some ideas?

•have a dance party in your living room

•go play in the rain

•go try on funny masks at the party store

•go to the jumpy house place (whatever that's called)

•talk in British accents at the dinner table

•download the HeliumBooth app and go to town

One of our family favorites, pause the TV and then everyone mimic what's on the TV.

These are just a few ideas! There are millions more...I'm sure of it! Now go out there and have fun! Be JOYful!!

What are some of the ways your family has fun?

Ember is married (18 yrs this year) to Derek Sherman, Pastor of Connections, at RockPointe Church in Leander, Texas. She is a work at home mom of two awesome boys, Corbin-17 and Bryson-10. Most of her free time is spent volunteering at the church on the creative team, with the youth or planning time together with the women of RockPointe. She also loves date nights, coffee and/or shopping with friends, pedis and snow cones. 8)