Humor in Times of Trial

As some of you know, I am in California for a month, helping my parents as my dad begins his chemo treatment to fight Hodgskin's Lymphoma.

Today, at the hospital's cafeteria, my mom, my dad, and I sat down to have lunch. As my dad was injecting his pre-lunch insulin, the needle hit a sensitive area. This is the conversation that ensued:

Dad: "Ouch! I think I hit a nerve. This shot really hurt."

Me: "Well, dad, think of it this way: That pain is just one more note in the symphony of pain you're feeling right now."

The three of us started to giggle, and then to laugh out loud. My dad pointed out that it was a rather rude comment between fits of laughter, and I said, "Well, better to laugh about it. The alternative is to cry." At which point, we laughed even more.

It's all about perspective.