Pantyhose, Piano Benches, and Proverbs: Why Joy is Good Medicine
Picture it: the 90s. Dresses were the norm for church, pantyhose were still in style, and I was leading worship from a glorious 6' grand piano. It was a Sunday morning, and I had everything under control—except, well, my song order. So, during a Sunday school class taking place in the sanctuary, I tiptoed in, sat down at the piano bench, and started organizing my notes.
And then it hit me.
Not inspiration. Not divine revelation. Nope—an urge. You know the one. The “it’s just me and this piano; no one will know” urge. The ‘gas’ kind.
Now, I had layers on. We’re talking the holy trifecta: pantyhose, slip, and skirt. Surely, I thought, this would be quiet. Innocent. Unnoticed. So, I did what any self-assured, slightly naive person would do. I leaned.
The sound that followed can only be described as... epic.
Imagine an old saloon door from the 1880s slowly creaking open, painfully loud and impossible to ignore. It wasn’t a quick “oops!” It was a drawn-out, theatrical performance that took what felt like a full minute to unfold.
And oh, the Sunday school class heard it. How did I know? The shoulders. You know the kind. Silent laughter shoulders, shaking uncontrollably as people try to keep it together.
In that moment, I did what any self-respecting worship leader would do: I avoided all eye contact, stepped off the platform with as much dignity as I could muster, and booked it out of there. It wasn’t until I was safely outside that I could breathe—and laugh. Oh, how I laughed.
Life’s Too Short to Take Yourself Too Seriously
That moment taught me something I’ve carried ever since: life’s hard enough without us adding unnecessary seriousness to it. Embarrassing moments? They’re going to happen. Life doesn’t always go as planned, and sometimes, you just have to embrace the squeaks.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (NLT). Joy—even in the ridiculous, awkward moments—is God’s gift to us. It’s a reminder that we’re human, flawed, and often hilarious.
So, what if we leaned into laughter more often? What if, instead of cringing at our embarrassing moments, we saw them for what they are: opportunities to laugh, to connect, to remind ourselves and others that we’re all just trying to figure life out one moment at a time?
Joy in the Squeaky Places
Friend, maybe today you’re overwhelmed. Maybe the weight of life feels like a hundred layers of pantyhose. But here’s my encouragement: find the joy. Whether it’s in a perfectly-timed squeak, a toddler’s uncontrollable giggle, or the beauty of a quiet cup of coffee—seek out those moments of laughter and let them refresh your soul.
Because here’s the thing: God never asked us to be perfect or polished. He asked us to be real, to walk with Him through the ups, the downs, and the downright hilarious. So, go ahead—laugh at yourself. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and don’t forget to savor the beauty of life’s squeaky moments.
And next time you lean? Maybe test it out first.