Inspirational: The Day the Swing Broke

by: Linda Kirby/WGON 11.17.25

Remember the days of the front porch — when the family gathered on hot summer evenings to sit and chat, maybe share a slice of watermelon? That memory came rushing back to me during a recent conversation with a friend, and I’d like to share it with you. It’ll make you laugh, leave a lasting smile on your face, and more importantly, offer a lesson on life and how God can turn trails into joy.

About 73 years ago, when I was just a little girl, the family would gather on the porch after dinner to cool off. This was before air conditioning, so the shaded porch was our refuge. We were already settled in our usual spots when my Nannie came out after finishing the dishes. Her seat was always the porch swing — no one dared take it. She walked out, plopped her large, tired body down to rest, and suddenly — CRACK! — the swing gave way. Down she went with a thud.

We were stunned, worried for her well-being, until we heard it: her thunderous laughter. She was laughing so hard she peed, and that made us laugh so hard we cried. Everyone jumped up to help her, but no one could stop laughing. What could have been a painful, embarrassing moment turned into one of the most joyful memories of my life.

So, where’s the lesson here?

Genesis 21:6 — “And Sarah said, ‘God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.’”

Yes, God made laughter for Nannie, and we all laughed over her. What could have been a bad event for an older, heavyset woman became a moment of joy that has stayed with me for 73 years. It still brings a smile to my heart.

Sure, Nannie could have been angry, embarrassed, or started cussing. But she chose joy.

Proverbs 17:22 — “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Had she responded with bitterness, this memory wouldn’t have carried joy across generations. But because she laughed, we all did — and we still do.

When life knocks us down, our attitude determines whether we rise in sorrow or in strength. If we meet the downturns with grace and humor, we pass through trials lighter than if we carry anger.

Just today — November 13, 2025 — Senator John Fetterman fell face-first onto the pavement due to a medical emergency. Instead of complaining, he joked, “If you think my face looked bad before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

He met a potentially serious moment with levity, and that made all the difference.

So when trials come, look for the joy that’s been pushed to the back. Dust it off. Bring it forward. Don’t fold when dealt a bad hand — crack a joke, find the corner where joy is hiding, and let it shine. If we do that, we can get through whatever comes our way.

James 1:2–4 — “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

This verse reminds us that even the hardest moments — a broken swing, a scraped face, a weary heart — can become stepping stones toward deeper joy and spiritual maturity. And remember, we are promised in Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” So, when trials happen and they will, we know that God doesn’t waste our trials. He transforms them.