Humor and Funerals

I dislike memes, but with a meme I can decide to participate or not. Forwards, however, are non-negotiable. You get them, like it or not, tough shit, and I, as a rule, hate them. But as with all rules, there are exceptions, and I received one today that, though meant to be funny, really brings up a subject that is in ways close to my heart.

"A father was at the beach with his children
when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.
"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
"Did God throw him back down?"

How do you reconcile this for a kid? Try doing it with their baby sister, not just a mangy bird. I think it was a really good forward. It was full of cute little quips about kids and religion, worth a good giggle, but this particular part really hit home with me. Thanks Heather - for helping me see humor in something I struggled with at one point. I still have no idea if I handled the viewing and funeral the way my kids needed me to, but this little bit of humor was a nice addition to my day.