Laughing Again
This is a story about a picture, a laugh, and how God is helping
me rebuild my relationship with my son after my stroke.
I love this old picture of me and my son Joshua. It always makes me laugh. I was telling him a joke, and he laughed so hard — one of those big, unstoppable laughs that makes your own stomach hurt.
Back then, before my stroke, we had a relationship full of life. We wrestled for fun, laughed a lot, and were always talking.
Then everything changed. I had a stroke. I spent a month in the hospital. I had brain surgery. And for a long time after, I had aphasia — a language disorder that stole my ability to speak. Suddenly, there were no playful wrestling matches, no jokes, no long talks. Just silence.
It’s hard to explain how much that silence hurt. Not just because I missed the sound of his voice, but because I felt like I had lost a piece of our connection.
Now, I’m learning to rebuild trust, communication, and relationship. It’s not quick, but it’s happening. And when I see this picture, I remember something important: our story isn’t over. God is still writing it. Things are getting better — not 100%, but improving — over these past four years.
The Bible says:
“And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14, NLT)
Love is how we start again. One smile, one laugh, one conversation at a time.