And This Is Why We Laugh

By Dayna E. Harris Ed.D

Life has many paths presented to us at various times. Based on the information we have at that time, a path is chosen, and with that choice comes the outcome. Some outcomes are positive. Others are, well, let us call them "learning opportunities." And This Is Why We Laugh is the story of a journey down various paths that all converged at one point in time. The focus of the book is not the individuals who were part of the journey. Rather, the central theme is God's love, which He displays through the person of Yahshua-Jesus Christ. Every choice has a corresponding action. We must decide to make choices that align with God's word even when other paths look more appealing. This book has lessons on self-control (a word we really do not like to hear), perseverance, hope, and overcoming challenges.

As you read biblical truths, my prayer is that you will learn to filter your choices through God's eyes. God desires for us to choose His path, which leads to life, prosperity, joy, and peace. There are times in life when we make choices, and then there are times when we experience the outcome of another person's choice. For example, a person driving a car does not stop at a traffic signal. The driver hits another car. The driver of the hit car will experience the outcome of the initial driver's choice. The driver of the hit car cannot control the original action, but he can control his response to the situation. No matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves, Jesus is our way of escape. He is our helper and life tour guide. As you read this book, the truth of who God really is will help to illuminate Jesus's love for you. He has a wonderful plan for your life. In the middle of adversity, you can always laugh because if you choose Yahshua-Jesus Christ, you will win.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639039173

Book preview

Chapter 1

And

And they overcame by him [satan—author addition] by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.

—Revelation 12:11a

On various occasions and different points in life, we have all experienced a sense of hopelessness and despair. Some have suffered the loss of a child, loved one, job, home, had to battle sickness and disease, etc. When that event occurs, the feeling that the sun will not shine again is constant. For a better understanding of this time in life, let us look at Apostle Paul’s situation in the twenty-seventh chapter of the book of Acts.

Paul was a prisoner being taken to Rome to be presented to Caesar. Before setting sail, Paul gave a warning saying, Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship but also of lives (Acts 27:10). Have you ever felt like you should not do something or make a particular decision? Yet, you ignored that feeling and proceeded full steam ahead with a choice that ended up being a big mess. I am raising my virtual hand right now. Leaving the military was the worst choice I ever made as it led to ten years of misery and consequences. Initially, I thought moving to Georgia was a terrible decision.

Looking back now, I can see God’s grace on every part of my life. While it was not God’s plan or desire for me to suffer such loss and grief, He provided a way of escape that allowed me to experience tremendous victory and peace. We may have heard people say, I had a feeling that I should not have done that. If you are a child of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, that feeling was Holy Spirit striving to gently nudge you in a different direction. But, like the crewmembers of the ship on which Paul was traveling, we ignore the warning signs and end up in the eye of the storm.

During the trip, the crew encountered a Euroclydon, which is defined as a tempestuous/typhonic wind or a typhoon (American Heritage Dictionary). This was a literal gale-force wind blowing around them; however, it is also metaphoric for a tumultuous time in your life. Recall a time when chaos, confusion, and all hell broke loose on every side. No matter which way you turned, you were hit with another devastating blow—put yourself in the position of the crewmembers of the ship.

And because we were exceeding tempest-tossed, the next day, they lightened the ship. On the third day, we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. (Acts 27:18–19)

This is exactly what we do today. When the situation gets rough, we try to lighten the loads of our lives. We sell cars, homes, furniture, or whatever to get rid of some weight, hoping that will make the journey easier. More often than not, the effort proves futile such as in the case Paul describes.

After the birth of my daughter, life was very chaotic. While on maternity leave, I was asked by my former director to apply for a manager position (at that time I was the assistant manager of the department), which was posted shortly after my leave commenced. I was passed over for the promotion again (this was the second time the position was made available). The promotion was given to a woman who had been with the company for seven months versus my three years. I was told she had a bachelor’s degree, so she would be better suited for the position. Yet, I was asked to help her successfully transition into the role. Let’s just say I almost forgot that I knew Jesus. Before I allowed my emotions to get out of control, I requested a transfer to another department. Instead of authorizing the transfer, the director resigned me from the company. Just like that: I was a mother and unemployed in the course of two weeks.

The former spouse, T, was granted twelve weeks of family medical leave from his job. He told me that he was going to use the time to successfully launch his real estate career. During his twelve-week hiatus, he failed to prove that he could successfully operate as an independent agent which would support his family. I insisted that he return to work to ensure that we had healthcare and a consistent income. But he chose to allow the company to separate him for exhausting all approved leave time. And that was the proverbial straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. (During that time, I was not worshipping and seeking God as I should have been.) Like the centurion who headed Paul’s ship (Acts 27:11), I listened to others—big mistake.

From November 2006 to February 2007, T generated very little income from real estate. We were surviving on credit cards, student loans, and income from rental properties. I chose to complete my undergraduate studies during this time. I actively sought work; yet, I received rejection letters from every position for which I applied, including as a flight attendant, which had been my form of employment for several years prior to getting married.

Faithfully, I attended classes and completed my schoolwork. Most days, T was unproductive and just sat around the house. Looking back, I cannot even be upset with him as I robbed Peter to pay Paul to keep the house afloat. In January 2007, I told him to secure a job because we could not continue on in that manner. He complied by working a temporary job to supplement income from his real estate transactions, which were few and far between. To add salt to the financial wound, the tenants in one of the rental properties moved out leaving me with two mortgage payments for several months. Wait for it: that house had an adjustable-rate mortgage; and yup, it went up during that time. The house was on the market for months but did not sale. The bills were mounting; and T repeated, I will take care of it, while sitting in a lounge chair watching TV in the middle of the afternoon—day after day after day.

Time to Get a Job!

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

—Acts 27:20

T’s refusal to get a job pushed me into a corner. I mailed out several résumés over a six-month period and received constant rejections. I was not even granted interviews. After reading an opening with a friend’s employer, I contacted her to ask if she could forward my resume to the manager of the department. I had a five-question interview and was hired the next day over the phone. The hiring manager stated my experience and expertise would be an asset to the department. Here’s the catch: the job was in Arizona. Yes, Arizona. Not only would I have to leave my ten-month-old daughter, but I would commute every week between Georgia and Arizona for the job. But desperate times call for desperate measures, right? Or so I thought. T would not secure gainful employment with a consistent paycheck, so I had to do something. At least that is what I told myself in an effort to justify my choice.

Although the salary was $10,000 less annually than what I earned at my previous position, it was more than the $0.00 income at that time. Additionally, T has children from a previous relationship for which he had to pay child support and provide health insurance. After several discussions, T assured me that he was comfortable keeping my daughter alone during the four days a week that I would be at work. Thus, I accepted the position and was still a full-time student.

The move out west went relatively smoothly. I was set up in an apartment and began working. The hardest day was when T and my daughter left to return to Georgia. I cried as the plane pushed away from the gate. Not too long after, I had a routine of working Friday to Monday and commuting to Georgia on Monday nights. Due to the time difference, I did not arrive in Georgia until 1:00 a.m. This went on for several months. I was a wife, new mother, full-time student, and full-time employee. All the while, I felt T did very little to support our family. I paid for my daughter to attend day care thinking he was attending to business transactions. On more than one occasion, I called home to learn he was napping at 3:00 p.m., bowling, or at the recreation center playing basketball with his friends. Tension mounted. He accused me of abandoning my family, and I resented him for not working a secure job with a stable income.

While I admit the salary was not what I was accustomed to earning, it was something, and I was grateful to God for it. I believe in tithing. I do not argue with people about it. My personal viewpoint is that tithing puts my trust in God’s provision and favor.

Over the years, I heard pastors preach Malachi 3:8–10 and learned that I would be cursed if I do not tithe. I do not believe that is the correct interpretation of that scripture. Malachi is part of the old covenant. Today, we are part of the new covenant because we are living on the other side of the cross after Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. Galatians 3:13 tells us that Jesus was made a curse for me. The prophet Malachi was making a statement telling the people they are cursed because they are not tithing. Not that God was cursing them. Meaning, the tithe permits God to rebuke the devourer for you.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not