Let’s consider the power of humor in times of crisis—times of sickness, danger, or anxious waiting. Humor is the ability to see, hear, or show the amusing side of things. You need all three of these to hem up, and for you to be able to handle, everything that comes at you in a crisis, a stressful situation, or perplexing problem.
How welcome are the genuine reasons for laughter when the going is tough! And how wonderful and refreshing are the lighter moments when you see, or you hear, or you show others something about the humor that punctuated the heaviness of a crisis. The quicker we look for humor, the quicker we find it and the sooner we benefit from it.
A crisis may be one of the strongest verifications of the actual power of humor. Using humor in a crisis is far more valuable than only playing around with it in carefree times—because humor is one of the best things we have going for us in a crisis or any other time.
I discovered that humor also indicated to Rosalie and me that our crisis had past. That we could laugh again was a welcomed, and comforting sign.
Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Remember, at Christmas it’s the thought, not the gift that counts.” To that I say, “Baloney!” It seems to me, that dumb statement is another way of saying, “What I am giving you is not much, but it is enough to fulfill my obligation and get me off the hook.” I have noticed that this disclaimer never accompanies a real gift, such as a new car, or good football tickets, or a dozen steaming hot dogs.
When you give something that is good enough to be a real gift, you don’t have to say anything—the gift speaks for you.
It is the Gift that Counts!
I have received some wonderful gifts that needed no commentary. A good friend brought me a Christmas gift in a large box. It was ornately wrapped. His entire family brought it over. I couldn’t wait to open it, but if I had waited, it would not have spoiled—it was a can of antifreeze. A memorable gift! It wasn’t “the thought behind the gift,” it was the fun behind the gift that counted!
Another friend brought to a newly engaged couple’s wedding party a large box that required two men to place it on the gift table. The couple could hardly wait to open the obvious container of a television. When they opened the mystery gift, it was a case of 144 rolls of toilet paper. Bingo!
Have you ever received a hockey puck for Christmas? I did, right after Rosalie and I were married. For a “Florida boy,” that was a mysterious gift—because that was the first time I had been in the same state with a hockey puck. For a year, not one of my Southern friends could guess what it was.
My brother called to wish us well and asked, “Are you using your puck much these days?” I hesitated a long time. “Danny, are you there?” Since I didn’t know what it was, at first I didn’t know what he was asking. When he told me what my gift was I realized that he had given me my most mysterious (and for a Florida boy), most fascinating gift.
