Humor in adversity is a hard concept to teach. I might even go so far as to say that it is unteachable. You either have it or you don't. The people who inherently know how to turn something difficult into something funny are happier. They get along better with others. I have a child who does this and I wasn't aware of how well she does this, until last night. It was the homecoming dance for her high school. She is a freshman and, as your average freshman would tell you, nerves can be a factor when you are the newbie going to your first big dance. Her dress--beautiful, make up--just right, hair style--fashionable and pinky toe--bleeding profusely. We put pressure on it, taped it, bandaged it and it just kept bleeding. She was invited to a neighbor friend's house for dinner and pictures beforehand. She was very late due to this bleeding toe. We finally bandaged it as tightly as we could and headed over. Sure enough, bled right through. This has been an hour of bleeding people--enough already! Thankfully these are close friends and weren't too squeamish about propping her foot up and rebandaging it. It was bleeding as if it had first happened.
After 15 minutes of more pressure and knowing that it was only 20 minutes until the dance started, I saw it start to happen. Her eyes were tearing up and she said, "It's ok mom, I can just stay home. I don't mind." This kid was going to the dance if I had to cauterize the stupid toe myself! I looked at her and said, "Bek now is the time you pray. Ask for God to help us find a way to fix that little toe so that you can go." I don't know what she said inside that gorgeous head of hers but she did look away for a minute or two. I sprayed this new stuff on it--liquid bandage and the bleeding stopped. I wrapped it tightly with gauze, bandages and tape. It was huge but it wasn't bleeding. Of course her shoes were sandals and that pinky toe was hard to miss.
This 14 year old freshman smiled, drew a happy face on her toe with sharpie and named it "Happy Boo Boo". She said, "Mom, next year everyone is going to want one." She went to that dance with her head held high and came home smiling, laughing and glowing. She had a blast.
Her humor in adversity is making her a very happy person. You rock Bekkah.
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