Look for examples of good/clean/spiritual humor to replace the inappropriate stories and jokes you eliminate. Good humor is all around you. Sometimes you hear it, see it, or create it. Humor makes you laugh and you make others laugh! (A good deal for all!)
It is clear that you are usually on the side of good humor—or you would not be reading this blog. But what is your perspective on bad humor? Do you encourage it? Tolerate it? Participate in it? Pass it on? Bad humor is in popular usage and it is hard to escape, but there are some healthy responses you can make so you can pray the prayer: “Show me how to share the gift of humor so others may laugh like you intended. Amen”
Appropriate Humor versus Inappropriate Humor! Some of the following conditions may apply to you. Determine which you are willing to accept as working hypotheses.
- You will receive the Gift of Humor when you prepare for it, claim it, value it, and use it!
- If your spirit is not laughing, it is likely because persons or circumstances have dumped negative debris upon your efforts to be humorous—clogging you with ridicule and hurt.
- Instead of allowing those influences to control you, choose now to become a humorous person—and have the fun of working at it as “your way of life.”
- Figure out what you will do about inappropriate humor (if you have any).
You may wish to spend time reflecting upon these four propositions to see if there is anything here for you.
The bottom line: It is inappropriate to laugh at humor that is inappropriate: humor that offends you or someone else!
