the gift of laughter

My oldest daughter, Chelsea, has the gift of laughter. She giggles and laughs at everything! I mean everything.
She can't help herself. She is a non-stop giggle pot!

Every so often I find myself falling into the trap of wanting to correct her, of wanting to teach and train her that there are times when laughter is not appropriate and needed. I find myself wanting to stop the giggles from flowing.

Some days it is because I don't want to hear them, because I feel upset that I can't see how she does and that I find all the giggling childish.

But, I catch myself.

I bite my tongue. I hold back and let the laughter flow.

I find myself loving more and more that she can see the funny side of life, that she can see good and can let that out through her giggles and laughter.

Even though she is now a teenager, I love that she still has a child like quality about her.
I am in no rush for her to mature, to become serious about life and to hear her laughing less.

She may be, beside's my husband, the happiest person I know.

Her laughter and smile is a gift to me and our family. Chelsea encourages us to be happy and many days her laugh has been music to my heart and ears. 

I hope she always has this gift of laughter. That her smile stays big and she continues to share it with all she meets. 

I feel blessed that I get to see it every day and that she was born this way.