Why Do People JOKE with you?

When People JOKE with YOU!

-Darrel E Stott

Cultures are Different

I remember my first trip to the country of Australia.The country and people were beautiful but the some of the things in the culture were shocking to me. An example is as I was ministering in the city of Sydney and I assumed the culture was the same as America.

After the meeting we went to a house for food and coffee. Immediately very blunt joking began. They picked on each other joking about the size of their nose, being fat or how big their ears were. And it went on and on. What one person would say the others would say something worse. I felt so sorry for the person being picked on.

Later they explained to me the culture of Australia: “Darrel if no one picks on you saying terrible things about you and your body it means they do not like you. The more they like you the more they will joke with you saying terrible things.

Wow I was so glad they said terrible things about me.

I made some bad mistakes in Australia.

I quickly learned Australia has so much slang, Musicians are called Muso’s and a barbeque is called a “Barbie”. But I did not know that some of our words from North America are swearing in Australia. After my preaching they would say “Darrel please do not ever use that word again”.

An important lesson that I learned?

In most countries of the world if people joke with you in any way it means they see you as a friend and like you.

Because I joke much I am offend misunderstood

When my mother was 78 yrs old just before her death one day she told me this: “Darrel I am your mother and I still cannot tell when you are joking and when you are telling the truth.”

Many times when I joke with friends I keep a straight face and do not smile. Therefore they assume I am not joking. I love to do this!

BUT… (oh oh big problem)

Sometimes people get so angry with me for saying what I say. They do not understand my style of joking. It will always be true.

*But if friends are friends they do not stop communicating but they will try to learn how understand and communicate better

A real friend will try to joke and get even with the person who played a joke on them

When you get ANGRY at a person’s words what does it mean?

“When revival came into my life they immediately told me this. Darrel when the words of a person offend you pay close attention to their words.

Why?

God is showing you an area of hurt or an area that needs to be healed it. Do not get angry or offended but write the word s down and pray over them”

Why do I feel inferior or insecure?

Smile! Everyone feels inferior or insecure in some way. It means you are normal!

Learn to accept yourself and laugh at yourself. If you are still frustrated then I encourage you to read some books on being “codependent”. Let God set you free to be happy and love yourself.