This is the 20th of 25 special reflections based on lessons I learned from my mother. These will run from my birthday on October 27 until her birthday on November 20.

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Philippians 4:1-9

So many people think that the Christian life is drudgery. I remember thinking that if I became a Christian my days of fun would be over, and my wife said that’s what kept her from accepting Christ for a while when she was a teenager. But when I think back about my mother, she lived a life of joy and laughter.

Yes, it was clean fun, because Christians should veer away from sin. But somewhere the lie was started that the only fun people could have was fun immersed in sin. All fun had to involve drunkenness, illegal drugs, illicit sex, profanity and law-breaking – or some combination of some of the above. But reflecting on my mother, I realize that she had a blast – and she didn’t do any of these things.

Mom found enjoyment in the little things in life. She played with her children and grandchildren. When she was younger, she dabbled with community theatre and she hosted a children’s show on a local TV station. She and my stepdad went on trips to fun places, and often they’d take us along. Some of my favorite memories are from trips to places like Hilton Head, Walt Disney World, the mountains of North Carolina or the Homestead in Virginia. What brought my mother the most enjoyment was seeing her family happy, and she loved being a part of that.

My daughter also has some of these same memories even though she was only 9 years old when Mom died. I think all of the grandchildren who are old enough to remember her have some of these memories because Mom took time to have fun with them in some way that was meaningful to each child. She showed them that there’s value in “play,” and as a result, some powerful playtime memories were cemented into each of her children and grandchildren.

As we approach the holiday season, I hope that each of you will have a joyous season filled with fun and loving memories. Just remember – the best times you have will be ones that you are able to remember and that you’ll be willing to share unashamedly with others. Find the value in playtime, whether it’s with children or adults. Lifelong memories can come from a good card game or board game, and don’t even get me started on “Nertz.” (My Smith family knows how intense the fellowship can be in those games.) Other than fun, the common denominator in these moments is always love. When we’re enjoying each moment in love for each other and for the Lord, the memories will last a lifetime and beyond.

Reflection copyright © 2024 Doug DeBolt.