I have several friends who like the same kind of humor I do---scary, huh? Marvin and I used to call it "dark" humor. We laughed about many things that others would have found annoying, depressing, even inappropriate. It was his sense of humor that attracted me to him.
One of my special humor friends is now very ill with inoperable cancer. She can no longer work, and spends most of her time in bed. This week she started taking morphine for the pain. She told me that taking morphine frightened her a little bit. As we talked about various fears, I was reminded of my mother...a story I shared with my ailing friend.
When my mother was older, she had trouble sleeping. It seemed hard for her to turn off her buzzing thoughts. I suggested she might talk to her doctor about a sleeping aide. She said, "Oh no, I wouldn't want to get addicted!" I assured her that getting addicted to sleeping pills when you're in your 80s is not a bad thing!
My friend listened to my story and we laughed together. Although I feel very sad at her prognosis and the pain that is overwhelming her today, I am thankful her sense of humor is still at work.
Humor can be a source of strength and encouragement for us in dark days. How do you cultivate humor?
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