The Easter season is an appropriate time for a little laughter. As someone has said, “On Easter Sunday, Jesus had the last laugh over Death and the Evil Spirit.” And I always appreciated what comedian Victor Borge said: “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” With that in mind, here are some items and a video that I hope will lift your spirits and help bring us closer together!
BUT FIRST TWO THINGS: Announcing our bird identification winners! (In case you missed it). I sent a prize to the two winners who accurately identified the bird seen on the right, a European goldfinch. First, there was Sister Marty Dermody a Sister of Charity who directs the Spirituality Center at Mt. St. Joseph in Cincinnati, OH. (I’ve met Marty several times when I gave retreats there.) Marty is not only a birder, she is an avid photographer who celebrated her Golden Jubilee last year. She is looking forward to retiring soon and being able to share her love for birds with others. Our second winner is Charlene Kellerman of Erie, PA. Charlene is an “agregee” (associate) of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Erie. (I’m giving a retreat there next year, so I’ll meet her then!) She describes herself as a “casual birder.” She loves watching birds in her backyard as they splash in her birdbath and flit from tree to tree. She enjoys listening to their songs too. The prize is a chocolate treat for Marty and Charlene plus a treat (sunflower seeds!) for their bird friends! What connection does the European goldfinch have with the Easter story? Throughout the centuries, the European goldfinch has been seen in paintings of the Madonna and Child. In some, the child Jesus is actually holding the bird. The legend says, as Jesus hung on the cross, one of these birds pulled a thorn from his crown of thorns to alleviate his sufferings. A drop of Jesus’ blood fell onto its little head. That’s why this species of goldfinches has a red head!
POPE FRANCIS: As we continue to mourn Pope Francis and pray for his successor, here is a beautiful prayer I came across from Liturgical Press:
Loving God, we give you thanks for the life and ministry of Pope Francis.
In him you gave us a man of humility, one who valued listening to the voices of the voiceless,
compassion for the undervalued, mercy for sinners and justice for the oppressed.
You gave us a pastor who led through the example of his love
for your people and creation, who was not ashamed to smell like his sheep.
Comfort all who mourn his passing, and may the angels now lead him
to paradise to rest in your peace for all eternity.
May your Spirit guide the future successor to your servant Francis
to continue the work you have begun through him for the good of the Church and the world.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Now for some humor. Let’s start with children:
A mother was teaching her three-year-old the Our Father. After a while, the little girl was ready to pray it solo. Her mother listened with pride until she heard, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some e-mail. Amen.”
Little Ben had his baseball bat and glove. As he headed outside, he passed his father reading the newspaper in his chair. Said Ben, “Anytime you’re ready, Daddy, I’ll be sitting outside growing older.”
While Dory was sitting in the church pew next to her mother, she leaned over and whispered, “Churches are smart. They have pretty windows, but you hafta come inside to see them.”
As Hunter was about to bite into his peanutbutter and jelly sandwich, he said. “If God lives inside us like Grandma says, I hope he likes peanutbutter and jelly!”
Father: When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he walked 12 miles to school.” Son: “When Abraham Lincoln was your age, he was President of the United States.”
The supervising Sister was visiting preschool at a nearby parish. She asked the children, “What is special about you?” She expected something like, “I’m in school now… I’m four years old… I have new friends.” Instead one little girl said, “I’m from God.” And her name was Grace.
Speaking of children, did you know this? Having one child makes you a parent. Having two makes you a referee.
The Washington Post challenged its readers to send in ideas for useless products. The list included: Fire alarm with a snooze bar… inflatable dart board… can-opener-in-a-can… Lobster Helper… and silicone thigh implants.
Says comedian Rita Rudner, “I don’t panic when I get lost. I just change where I want to go.”
The best way to spoil a good discussion is to include someone who knows what they’re talking about.
SIGN somewhere in Canada: “RED SQUIRRELS DRIVE SLOWLY” (I guess gray squirrels drive fast!)
TWO SIGNS near each other: APPLEBEE’S and “WARNING PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD”
SIGN: “1 bedroom apartment for rent. All utilities included. No poets.” (Are novelists okay?)
Actual court transcript. Lawyer: “You say the car was returned to the dealer. Was it a lemon?” Witness: “No, sir, it was a Camaro.”
An online recipe: “Chicken fried rice in a skillet wth 4 lightly scared eggs, 2 soft carrots, ginger, garlic, onions, and freshly chopped stallions.” (No wonder the eggs are scared!)
Sportscaster: “He’s got a knock on his shin there, just above the knee.” (I wonder where his feet are.)
I hope you would be suspicious if you got this email: “Hello I am the IRS you need to pay me $1500 in Walmart gift cards or you will be placed under the rest.”
Actual complaint posted in an online review of a tour company: “Tour company did not warn me that I would get wet during river rafting trip. It ruined my $300 leather handbag.”
What do you call a hippie’s wife? Mississippi
Why aren’t dogs good dancers? They have two left feet.
“Buffet” is a French word that means “Get up and get it yourself!”
Four perks of being “elderly”: 1) In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. 2) Things you buy now won’t wear out. 3) Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service. 4) Your secrets are safe with your friends, because they can’t remember them either.
And finally, two little poems that might be appropriate for our times:
That money talks, I’ll not deny.
I heard it now; it said, “Goodbye!”
And another poem:
Politics, it seems to me,
for years or far too long,
has been concerned with right and left
instead of right and wrong.
Did you like any of these?
If humor is so important for our well-being, what are some ways you nourish your sense of humor?
Would you like to share a little snippet of humor in the comments below?
Our Video: Michael McIntyre is a very popular British commedian. He takes ordinary things in life and performs little skits about them: raising kids, getting on an airplane, buying a new pair of shoes, putting kids to bed, driving, going to the eye doctor, using our cellphones, etc. Some of my friends and I find him very funny–and “clean.” This 4 minute video is one of my favorites. Here he points out all the silent letters we have in the English language and questions why we have them–when we don’t pronounce them: like the b in subtle or the l in half. He then proposes that we have a “Silent Letter Day.” (McIntyre, of course, has a British accent and he talks fast–so click on the closed captions cc if you need help.)
I welcome your comments below about the jokes, the pictures, and the video.
24 Responses
Good morning, Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Michael McIntyre is hilarious! I must show my students! So many good things in this Monday’s blog. I could really relate to the boy telling his father, “I’ll be outside growing older” (guilty as charged!). And I’m sure dear Pope Francis, who had a sparkling sense of humor, was laughing at them all!
My favorite: Why aren’t dogs good dancers? They have two left feet. One of our dogs passed away recently and think he is dancing in heaven.
Thank you for making my Monday full of joy and filled with laughter at the little things in life!
May God bless you akways!!
Exactly…..Monday, with a smile on my face. Perfect start….perfect. Thank you.
I loved the video, not sure I got every word, but certainly laughed along with the audience. Real belly laughs there, thank you so much.
Happy Monday, and thanks again for the humor this day! I enjoy the kid quotes, and being around my grandchildren I get my own version of young humor frequently. I’m also a fan of Michael McIntyre – especially the one today. I’ve shared it with my former co-workers who are editors. We all enjoy things like this about words.
Loved all the jokes Sr. Melanie. I love simple and quick jokes – a smile is a great way to start the week. Thank you.
Good morning, Sister. Life has been heavy lately and this morning after reading this blog the heaviness is not so heavy. It’s still there but I am not feeling its weight. I feel like I might start floating. THANK YOU so very much for the humor to start this day and week. You are a true blessing.
Good morning Sister and everyone, thank you for the story of the Europen Goldfinch I had not heard that before. I enjoy feeding the birds and watching them. I thank you for the humor to start this Monday.
God bless,
M
I love the photo of the banana dolphins! When I saw it, I knew this would be a grrrreat blog ☺️
Here’s my kiddie funny:
When I asked my granddaughter about loosing her first tooth (did it hurt? bleed much, etc.) she tired of my questions and said, “It’s not the end of being alive.” 😇
Melannie, thanks so much for the beautiful prayer from Liturgical Press this morning, thanking God for the life and ministry of Pope Francis. And I pray that the Spirit will guide the future successor to your servant Francis. And Melannie, you are truly a gift to me that I can start each Monday with laughter and peace!
Melannie, thanks so much for your Easter reflection today. Yes, our final hymn for the Easter Vigil was “Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise” and our 35 sisters who were here for our Vigil sang it much gusto! Sr. Eloise Hertel is our best cantor here at our Motherhouse and she helps all of us know the gift of Easter helps each of us grow in life and love for the coming year! Eloise got very sick in December and now lives in Wichita, KS, but she comes back to Great Bend each time we have a great liturgy celebration. We are so grateful for her.
Yes, I found out at 6 Am this morning that Pope Francis passed away. What a gift he has been to each of us and to people throughout the world as he worked for peace and love for every human being. And let us praise God that we may have another wonderful Pope in a few weeks. Happy Easter, Sr. Melannie!
Good morning Sr. Melanie, Thank you so much for a bit of laughter on a Monday. A great way to start the work week off with a smile on our faces. I hope you have a wonderful week!
Dear Sr. Melannie:
Thank you for the wonderful post this morning. Laughter is certainly the best medicine. The video is priceless!! The prayer was so fitting and may we all be in prayer for our next Holy Father! Blessings from Texas!
Michelle Rabb
I went to the Cardiology Clinic for follow -up visit. I told the Cardiology Resident that I gained weight because I ate too much this easter season. Then, I read his summary notes, on line on my chart: She has gained weight over the last few months and ate a lot of during the steroid so she is concerned. Maybe, because I have an “accent”, or mis-spelled word by the medical transcript clerk. Just pondering the ambiguity of human encounters !
Sister Melannie, you are a blessing in my life. Thank you. I pray for your health and spiritual ministry.
Well good afternoon, Melannie, and thanks so very much for the write up in your blog. I am most grateful for your words and kindness. I received my gift today and am grateful for the bird treat and the delicious chocolate treats that came with the package.
Blessings to you and all who read your Sunflower blog…
Bless you Sr. Melanie, this is just what I needed right now. The jokes and video are wonderful, and the prayer for Pope Francis beautiful.
Yes this was a great day for laughter, thank you Melannie.
This one brought back memories.
Speaking of children, did you know this? Having one child makes you a parent. Having two makes you a referee.
And years ago a friend of mine wrote me and said when you have your third child you are outnumbered.
Have a great day!
I just found Mike McIntyre….makes my day many days. Love the one about how people spell their names and how they pronounce them. having been married to a high school principal for 34 years and watching him try to pronounce names correctly during graduation (Lana and Lana — pronounced each differently — one with more of an “o” sound – Andrea and Andrea — same thing). I can relate to so many things Mike M does — and the one about “if spices could talk” is a hoot. Thanks for mentioning him — and for the cute kid “jokes.” Happy Easter.
Love your blogs, Melannie, keep them coming! I wrote this one day… thought it might add to your laugh list.
Alice and Her Bear
Alice had a little bear
Her bear was very kind.
And everywhere that Alice went
You’d see her bear behind.
It followed her to school one day
It was against the rule
To have a little bear behind
When you went into school
The teacher spoke to Alice
And told her she must know
For her to come to classes,
Her bear behind must go.
Alice looked around her
To her faithful little Friend,
And said, ” I’ll never leave you.”
To these rules I’ll never bend.”
She said goodbye to Teacher
Her words were sad and kind’
‘Twas the last they saw of Alice
And her little bear behind
Thank you Sr Melanie, what a wonderfully laughterfilled blog…just what I needed…
As the airplane took off, my son asked my 3 year old grand-daughter:
“Jess , my ears have just popped, have yours?”
Jess replied:
“No Daddy. My ears burped”.
St. John XXIII is one of my favorite popes, and I loved his sense of humor. When asked how many people work at the Vatican, he replied “about half of them.” And a favorite bit of dialog between some woman and Winston Churchill (not sure I have the exact words): she said, if you were my husband, I’d give you poison, to which he replied, Madam, if you were my wife, I’d drink it.
Laughter is one of God’s greatest gifts!
I’m bananas for the bananas!
You are a contagion of compassion and healing. Today wrapped in the funny papers.Blessings!
Thank you for this light-hearted blog–we do need this! Also, we will continue to pray that the successor to God’s servant Francis will carry on God’s work