Even though we like laughter and enjoy praise and celebration, especially at this time of year, it doesn't always come easily. One fellow tells of his work as a hospital volunteer. He couldn't believe the pain and suffering he saw there: burn victims, deformities, terminal cancer. He watched the little ones cry. Some children were so lonely. Their parents couldn't take the trauma, so they never came to visit their own children. How horrible!

This fellow decided to get a clown's nose and a pair of oversized shoes. Then he painted his face and pulled on a wig. When he went to work dressed like that the next day, some of the children were scared, some were captivated, and some even showed hints of a smile for the first time in ages.

But others couldn't stop wailing. They were consumed by ag…