Me: This university has criminology. (Our son is interested in Exercise Science). You could be top of your class in criminology since you have lived with so many criminals.
Son: Hmmm. (His typical reply to anything I say). (He is a man of few words. However, I have determined what each Hmm sounds like and their meaning.)
Husband/Father: Yeah, and he can bring Josh (our 21-year-old son who has chosen a life of crime) in for Show and Tell.
Me: (Busting out in laughter)
Son: Smirking, trying not to smile.
Husband/Father: He (son) does not even know what Show and Tell is. It is a joke for older people.
Me: (Still busting out in laughter! Cannot stop now.)
Husband/Father: Either laugh or cry.
Anyone who has lived this life (raising children with trauma) would probably enjoy this dialogue. We have all learned that this stress can and will destroy you from the inside out. Having the ability and desire to see the humor in everything is vital to our survival.
God gave us emotions, but some emotion is not what God wants us to dwell in. It is simply not healthy. After raising thirteen children, for example, I can look back on many situations where I could have done better, but I refuse to look back with regret, guilt, shame or unforgiveness for myself. Too many of us dwell in these emotions as if soaking in a bath of guilt. I refuse to. I will not allow these emotions to seep into my being. I am human. I do the best I can, with what I have, at that moment in time. I am grateful for my experiences, both good and bad.
Comedians are funniest when their jokes are relatable. They target their jokes to the audience they are addressing. They turn our greatest frustrations, fears, and even sources of anger into a laughable situation.
Laughter is known to be the best medicine. Laughter is known to create endorphins, ease stress and anxiety, boost the immune system, and protect the heart, along with many other benefits.
Our lives get so messy and our brains struggle to make sense of it all. Our children have had a great deal of trauma. They often smile at you when you are seething with anger. They cannot make sense of their emotions or actions. They do not know why they do the things they do. We certainly cannot make sense out of it. A good friend of mine always said, “Do not try to make sense out of nonsense.” This is where I have used my faith in Jesus. I have given Him the burdens I cannot carry, leaving me more time and space to laugh and recognize His beauty.
What helps you? Is it a healthy alternative? Are you able to find the humor in most situations?
The Barenaked Ladies sing a line in their song, One Week, that says “I’m the kind of guy who laughs at funerals.” I can relate. I have laughed at funerals, several of them, but not as a disrespect or lack of love for the deceased for I have loved them dearly. I simply found a ‘peace’ of humor that transported me from a place of anger and sadness to a place of laughter.
Find humor in your day today. Find humor in your day tomorrow. Make it a habit. Make it a decision.
