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Learning to laugh with yourself and others is a gift we can all develop. Proverbs 15:15 says that he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast, regardless of circumstances. Proverbs 17:22 says that a merry heart does good like a medicine.
One of my first jobs after graduating from high school was being a cashier at a drug store. It was on November 1st and I was eagerly assisting customers, when suddenly the doors flew open and there stood two men, with women’s nylons covering their heads and each of them carrying a gun pointing directly at me.
I immediately thought that they got their days mixed up because yesterday was Halloween. Nevertheless it was a great costume and it looked so real. I was ready to congratulate them when suddenly one of them stuck his gun in my face and told me to put all the money in a bag. Putting the money in a bag was a major decision.
We had several bags to choose from and I wondered which bag should I use? A small bag might break because money can be heavy but a big bag might be too bulky. I couldn’t make up my mind, so I asked him which bag he wanted. He pointed his gun at my nose and told me that I needed to hurry up.
I started bagging the money, but when I came to the pennies, I didn’t know if he wanted them. I asked him, “Do you want pennies? They are heavy and not worth much, but if you want them you can have them.” With his gun pointed at my forehead, he said, “I am going to blow your head off.” In my shock, I wondered what my head would look like flying through the air.
His buddy came running towards me from the pharmacy and was holding a bag full of money, pills and medication. My bag was neatly rolled up with scotch tape securely holding everything in place. Ripping the bag out of my hand, he gave me strict instructions to stay where I was. They ran off into the dark night, leaving me with a sensation of confusion.
After a few minutes a woman came into the store with a description of the men and the vehicle. Very shortly the police arrived and I was told they caught the guys, they were high on drugs and the guns were loaded. During this time, my sister Beth was waiting for me in the car.
By the time I got into the car I was crying uncontrollably. She asked we what happened and as I told her the story she burst into laughter. I thought how can she be so inconsiderate and laugh when I almost got killed.
She apologized to me, still laughing, and said she couldn’t help it. She said that it just sounds so funny, “What kind of bag do you want? Would you like pennies with that?’ I had to admit that she was right and we both enjoyed a good laugh.
Maybe this story of my stupidity can be a reminder to all of us to not take ourselves so seriously.