I learnt from this writeup not to take life too seriously. Do your best, be good and don't stress much over things you can't control, as you hope and pray for the best.
However, it's easier said than done. I'm sure everyone knows that death is the inevitable end of man but can't help but worry about things that aren't going right, in as much as that doesn't solve the problem. That's because we're human and we can try not to worry but can't really be without worries. Humor is good as it helps to give us a break from our troubles and other times brings us a ray of hope. However, timing is also factor here because some bad jokes about people's situation may not be appropriate at that moment and may drive them to the edge.
On one hand is humor which is good, on the other hand is being sensitive to other people's predicament and lowest point. A balanced combo of these two factors boosts our emotional support for our neighbors/acquaintances/friends as we try to cheer them.