The Gospel according to Erma Bombeck

The late, beloved humorist Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) achieved great popularity for her syndicated newspaper column and bestselling books. She was a member of the United Brethren Church, but later converted to Catholicism. In 1984, Bombeck contributed the following introduction to JN Editor Cal Samra's book, The Joyful Christ: The Healing Power of Humor (Harper Collins), which became a bestseller and launched The Joyful Noiseletter. The book is a tribute to a group of merry-hearted friars at an Arizona retreat center who rescued Samra from a suicidal depression by reigniting his faith and his sense of humor and viewing Jesus as a loving, joyful Christ. The book may be ordered from Amazon.)

By Erma Bombeck

Bombeck

I am a great believer in the premise that humor heals. I have nothing to back it up physically, but emotionally I have file drawers of pure testimonials.

I've always wanted to teach a course on marriage, because you could pretty well judge who is going to survive a short wife who puts the car seat up under the steering wheel and never puts it back, and who refuses to put it back.

I've had pitiful letters from people who swear they don't have a sense of humor and want to know how to develop one, because they've heard how much of a stabilizer one is. And they're right. What I have been doing for 16 years in my column is to put my life in perspective, the frustration of raising children, the loneliness, the pain, and the futility of it all. And it works.

Last week, I got a great letter from a woman celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary. She said a lot of young people wondered how it lasted so long. She wrote: "For years, Herb and I both lusted after the cauliflower in the mixed pickle jar. Herb does not know this ‒ I've always let him have the cauliflower."

One of the favorite stories I used to tell when I lectured was the Supermom who is perfection itself. She did everything right: Kept a perfect home; kept her husband happy. Always had a copy of Bishop Fulton Sheen's latest book on the coffee table. And answered the door pregnant when the priest came by.

One day, I asked her how she did it, and she said: "I emulate the Blessed Virgin Mary," and I said, "Marge, it's a little bit late for that."

She said, "Very well, I'll tell you. Every evening, when the children are bathed and tucked into their clean little beds, and the lunches are lined up and labeled and packed in the refrigerator, and the little shoes are racked up, and the driveway is waxed, and I've heard all the prayers of the children, I fall down on my knees and say, "Thank you, God, for not letting me kill one of them today."

I would see an auditorium of women breathe a sigh of relief.

©2024 the Joyful Noiseletter. All Rights Reserved

Articles

Christian Performer Matthew West Lets Humor Bring Gospel Joy in Songs of Grace

The Capital Idea is Joy!

Fairly Spiritual Worship Service

God's Great Global Glitch

More Political Humor

God's kids say and do the funniest things

Political Humor

Humor for the hard times

The Gospel according to Erma Bombeck

Abe Lincoln's sanity saved by his humor

ON MY SERIOUS SIDE: WHERE DID ALL THE PEACEMAKERS GO?

THE HOLY GHOSTWRITER Rejoice in the different ways people worship God

A laugh a day keeps the psychiatrist away

Day of Hope

A Christian comedian's credo

The Clown's Prayer

God's kids say & do the funniest things

Doggy wisdom

Will Rogers - America's greatest journalist?

Christian Civil War? A Joyful Jesus or a Sad Jesus?

After the Winter, God sends the Spring

The Holy Ghostwriter: Unpraiseworthy Band

Valentines Day Prank

A New Year's Resolution

Thanksgiving Potpourri

The first laugh in the Bible

Choose to love

God is a God of laughter

Pastor lifts congregation's spirits

An old Orthodox prayer to end an unorthodox war

Touched with Joy

Easter

IT'S A MIRACLE! A health and diet book with a spiritual focus

A walking sermon

A New Year's prayer to end all epidemics

Three laughing monks

The healing power and joy of forgiveness

The Holy Ghostwriter: First Christmas News Reports

God is in the punch line

The Gospel according to Erma Bombeck

GESUNDHEIT! What we all can learn from Tom Brady, 'St. GOAT'

Is the Press Sleeping on the Job? Beyond Pesticides & the rise of interest in organic foods

IN THE MARRY MONTH OF JUNE - The funny side of weddings and marriages

'St. Mugg's' resurrection: 'Laughter is God's therapy'

An Easter Reflection: Where did the Pharaohs go?

Whatever happened to 'good works'?

185,000 members spread Joygerms worldwide

'When you're smiling'

What the news media didn't tell you about pandemics

The Christ-Like Will Rogers

Look for the helpers!

Patch Adams calls for 'a revolution of loving'

Messianic Jewish wit full of one-liners

Joy at the Last Supper

Celebrating JN's 35th Anniversary

Why not invite brains to the coronavirus press briefings?

Groucho Marx mask befuddles coronavirus

A 'Resurrection Day' for healed parishioners?

'March of Prayer' is 'March Gladness'

Lincoln Kept Himself Sane with Humor and Jokes

Words to Start the New Year