Dear Friends,
Last night
we attended a very joyful occasion—a wonderful Navajo tradition called the
First Laugh Party. The first laugh is a very significant event. In
Traditional thinking, it marks the child’s final passing from the spirit world
to the physical world.
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| Still smiling and laughing |
It is
customary for families to take note of who causes the baby’s first laugh
because this warrants a celebration. Whoever causes the laughter is responsible
to “throw a party” to celebrate the event. In some instances, it is very
low-key – the mom stops what she is doing, cooks fry bread and helps the baby
to hand out salt to whoever is there. In other cases, friends and relatives are
invited for an evening of food and fun, and the person who made the child laugh
is in charge of butchering sheep, preparing food, gathering rock salt, putting
candy in gift bags, and inviting friends.
Fellow WIM missionaries D.H. and Emily Henry have a 4-month old
baby girl named Zoe. She is an adorable baby who enjoys being passed
around at church or at the Ladies’ Tuesday night Bible Study. Her brother
Phineas said he made her laugh. As his parents explained the tradition to him,
he learned that he now had the responsibility to show his generosity in
throwing her a party to teach her generosity. He provided the candy with
money from his own piggybank.
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| Making fry bread for the celebration |
Once the
baby has laughed, the training in generosity begins. In the Navajo culture, high value is placed on generosity. At the party, the
baby (with the help of the one who initiated this step) hands out a piece of
rock salt and candy to the guests. This is to teach her to be generous and
hospitable. The salt is eaten immediately or used to season the stew.
As we
crowded into the Henry’s living room with
our Navajo friends eating
mutton stew, fry bread, grapes, and veggies, Milt, a Navajo pastor, told
stories. Milt admitted that he did not usually attend first laugh parties
because of the traditional baggage associated with it. Traditional religion is
deeply intertwined with cultural practices, making distinctions difficult.
Then D.H.
shared Scripture concerning salt and generosity. It was a wonderful way of
redeeming a Navajo tradition for the Lord Jesus.
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| Baby (with brother) learns first lessons in generosity. |
As salt was
regarded as a necessary ingredient of the daily food and of all sacrifices
offered to the Lord (Leviticus 2:1-13), there is a connection between salt and
covenant making. Covenants were confirmed by meals, and salt was always
present. Salt also is a preservative, so a covenant of salt is forever before
the Lord (Numbers 18:19).
D.H. also connected laughter and giving using II Corinthians 9:7: “Each of you should give what you
have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver.”
What fun to celebrate with
our Navajo friends, enjoying an evening of fellowship, learning, connecting the
meaning of the ceremony with God’s Word and praying for this young life to grow
up to be joyful and savory for the Lord.
Love,
Roger and Sara
Have a Blessed
Thanksgiving!!
Blog: https://everettnavajo.blogspot.com
Support: Western Indian Ministries: http://www.westernindian.org/donate2/
P.O. Box 9090, Window Rock, AZ 86515
