Does God Laugh?

Sometimes Sunday School lesson plans need to be thrown out the window. Today was one of those days. Our church uses a rotational Sunday School model where the children are divided into 4 age groupings that then rotate through 4 specially designed rooms each week of the month. I teach in the storytelling room and this week we were learning about the last supper.

As the children straggled in, my children’s minister came to me and said “This class is a handful; they’re sharp but they have a lot of energy.” I surveyed the crowd. There was an elfish little boy with a St. Patrick’s day tattoo who was sizing me up as well…a wide-eyed little boy who I had to race into the classroom to encourage him in the door…an adorable little guy with a huge scratch down his face who responded with a “I got nothin’” when I asked him what happened. Strange that I didn’t know more of this group. I had taught this age group for the past 2 years when these little munchkins were in the preschool program. Of the 9 children, I had only had 3 of them attend regularly in the past.

As we got to work talking about symbols and how we keep momentos from trips and award ceremonies to help remind us of those good times, a number of little 5 year olds sighed loudly and kerplopped themselves back on the floor. I quickly halted the conversation and gave them the no dice! Then before they knew what hit them I led them in a quick 5 play round of Simon Says explaining that since I now knew they were listening, we could go on.

Two activities later, I led the kids over to a low table to serve them some bread and talk about how Jesus served the last supper. From the far end of the table, a squeak arose “I don’t see God. How do I know He is there?” Good, I’ve dealt with this one before. “Umm, did God make people?” Another easy one. “Why did God have Jesus die?” Now they were firing like popcorn. Slowly, as simply as I could, I answered every question as it was clear to me the reason I had never taught these critters before was because the bulk of them were new to our church and new to learning about the Bible. Then the little elfin with the impish grin spoke. “Does God laugh?” The room was silence; it was a bit like going into one of those slow-motion scenes in a sit-com.

This was a child’s question. A child who had been made to sit and follow rules when in Sunday School. A child who had already in his short life found that God is something serious and solemn and to be treated with respect. He was not asking me if God has a sense of humor; he was asking me if God ever has fun. Does God ever sit back and chuckle and enjoy this wonderful world of His? Does God ever just let loose? Most importantly, if I buy into this God thing, does that mean that I never get to have fun?

This was one of those moments. I could feel it as the little eyes peered at me. It was time to set down the lesson plan. Yes, I told them. I think God does laugh. You know why? Of course nobody knew. Neither did I really. But my mouth started moving before my brain could take over. You see, “God created human beings in his own image.” Genesis 1:27. Cue question from the little peanuts: “What’s an image?” I had this one before too–the simple answer…it’s what you see when you look in a mirror. The you in the mirror is your image. Since God created us with the ability to laugh, and we are like him, he must have that ability to laugh as well.

Visible tension dissipated from the furrowed brow of the little sprite. Their faces were so open, they were eager to hear more. I asked the kids if they would like me to read to them. All 9 eagerly agreed so we moved to a smaller more intimate area of the room and sat down together. I read the Children’s Bible starting with The Last Supper and continuing on as the rapt audience encouraged me to read just one more, just another one, please one more story . As I read my little questioner snuggled up next to me rubbing his hand up and down the back of my arm. We never finished the lesson plan as we sat like that reading until it was time to go. But I can’t help but think that God was looking down on us and chuckling for he was probably thinking, “Yes, this is good.” and all because a little child asked if I laugh. Can’t you feel a smile and hear a slight chuckle?

Edited to add: I know there are more theological debates about God’s sense of humor but this mommy’s opinion is that yes God laughs. God loves us so much that He calls us His children and like any parent that enjoys watching their child learn, explore and do silly things, God must delight in watching His children. The Bible tells us that God rejoices over His children with “shouts of joy”… He “sings” over us… He “delights” in us… As a parent, how can you read the Scriptures and not think that God can laugh?