Grow Up
Growing up I was known for being humorous. HA HA!!!!
People enjoyed when I made them laugh. What they didn’t know is that it was actually a coping mechanism that I used to lead people from uncomfortable situations. It was my way of not dealing with reality. It was a way for me to take what could be anger on my part and make the whole situation move quicker. It was a quick escape from a negative reality.
Growing up some people were just mean for no reason. I thought something was wrong with me, because I thought to myself ..”WHY do people revert to being mean as their baseline of strength.”
I had dealt with mean people so long when people were genuinely nice I felt it wouldn’t last that long, because growing up being nice never lasted long. I also felt they had an ulterior motive in which they would use my loyalty and niceness for self gain.
When people felt a discomfort it was easy to dump on someone who is not mean or seemingly defenseless. So my jokes and humor were for the most part situational. I tried my best not to make the punch of my jokes towards any one person ….THAT WOULD BE MEAN!!!
As I continued to grow into high school years, I didn’t have to tell jokes as often. I was able to be serious and be taken serious without being mean. Yet, people were use to me making them laugh. So I told a few humorous stories just to appease the people. They enjoyed it, because they new my jokes were “safe jokes”.
As I continued to grow into college years, my humor re-surfaced. College was full of mean people (especially when alcohol was involved). I will admit my humor help me to survive. (ok ok the alcohol helped the humor and the humor help me to stay cool)
Then I got saved. I was SERIOUS about Jesus. He had saved me from a life of deep rooted anger, un-forgiveness, and bitterness. All that was covered with surface leveled humor. I figured since the Lord had saved me from all those negative emotions. There was no need for humor any more.
One day I read 1 Corinthians 13:11 and it said:
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
I took this scripture to mean everything that I was, had to go…including my humor. I actually thought humor was immature, and being saved, ministering, and preaching salvation was no laughing matter.
Then one day I read the scripture in full context. This scripture sits at the bed of the New Testament’s love chapter. Contextually this scripture is not the way we see ourselves, but how we see God.
God initially gave me the gift of humor so that I could overcome. God allows me to grow my humor so that I can assist others in overcoming. I thought humor was a cover-up of pain and the whole time it was a shelter to keep me from being ripped apart from the storms of life.
I finally grew up!!! I lifted up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psalm 121:1)
My friend, because the Lord brought you out doesn’t mean he can’t use what you gained to get through to keep you. Rewind- Reword – God can use the same tool that freed you to keep you free.
Even how you see God now is dim, but one day when we meet him face to face it will all make sense. Love is the greatest tool for growth. Humor is one way I show love. What can you use today to show your growth? What can you use to show your love? What can you use to show your love growth?
Prayer:
Lord God,
I have to say thank you. Thank you from delivering me from me. You have allowed me to experience your divine hand in my life. Delivering me from past hurts, disappointments, mistakes and self-doubt. Forgive me God, when I try to define my faith and ability without making you a part of the equation. I pray, Oh Lord, that you continue to guide me to be kind toward others, even those who despitefully use me. I pray that you continue to send kind people to me to show your love. Bless those who already show me kindness. Thanks for all that you do. I pray these other blessings in Jesus’ name, amen.
