st voice his prayer request, "Lord you know I need a new bicycle!" After the prayer was over and the boys lay in bed, the older brother asked why in the world he was shouting so loud. He told him that he should know that God is not hard of hearing to which the little one responded, "I know that, but Grandma is!" Reading that little story reminded me of Ark Linkletter who passed away last week at age 93. His life story was quite remarkable. An orphan, a runaway, a talker, a family man, an entertainer, and a person who left his mark of laughter and joy on at least two generations. When he died he left behind his wife of more than 74 years. What was his most endearing gift? The ability to talk to people and have them talk to him producing some wonderful humorous insights into the human condition. His programs on both radio and TV were ones that no one had to worry about whether they were suitable for family. That in and of itself reflects a dying breed in our modern times.Some of his best interviews were done with children. He asked one youngster if he had ever been in love before. Th
e kid answered by saying, "No, but I have been in like." Here's Art at his best, "Any brothers or sisters?" "A 2-month old brother." "How does he behave?" "He cries all night." "Why is that, do you think?" "He probably thinks he's missing something on television." He asked a little girl about her pets. "I used to have a duck but it ran away. Then I had a turtle, but my father stepped on it. Then I had three goldfish but my sister put water softener in their bowl and they softened to death." Here's another classic. "What's your dad's job?" "He's a schoolteacher." "That's a fine profession. Does he like it?" "He only has one thing to complain about." "What's that?" "The kids!" "Any brothers or sisters?" "No." "Would you like some?" "Sure, I'm lonesome." "What does your mother say when you ask for one?" "She just groans." "What would you like to be?" "A stewardess." "What if a plane was in danger over the Rocky Mountains?" "I'd put parachutes on everybody and it there wasn't any parachutes I'd sew up sheets into parachutes real fast and put in extra pillows so if the sheets ripped on the way down, they could always land on the pillows." "What did your mommy tell you not to say?" "My mother told me not to tell any of the family secrets, like the time she dyed her hair blond and it came out purple."We laugh because it's the kind of stuff that makes up the fabric of life. Art also had a simple testimony of a deep faith in God. His adopted father was a conservative Bible preacher and later in life Art gave his dad credit for instilling in him his belief in G
od. His life was not immune from heartache as he buried three of his children including one due to suicide brought on by drug abuse. His response was to become a tireless warrior against drug abuse and the illicit drug trade. Art Linkletter would not be very acceptable in our course and degraded entertainment culture today. I can remember seeing him in an interview a few years ago. He was still brimming with optimism and a hope for our stressed out and troubled masses. What did he think was missing? Faith and family and being able to laugh about the funny things in life. Laughter is no doubt a gift from God and it can be medicine to our weary bones. I thank God for people like Art Linkletter that became our doctor who brought healing by doling out doses of smiles. Kids still say the funniest things and you are missing out on a blessing if you don't take the time to listen! That's right! Tune in and grab hold of something that will turn that furrowed brow and turned down lips into a big old huge laugh out loud smile. Do it today! May God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.
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