With jokes, you can make your sad friend to be happy?

I always try to do this, sometimes it doesn't work out the best but my intentions are always good. When I was younger and my grandmother passed away, I was very upset about it. I told my friends who were coming to the wake that night to please not tell me they were sorry for my loss. I knew they were. Instead I asked them to tell me a joke as I knew it would at least make me smile for a moment. And that is exactly what they did. :)