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| photo by Jean Ann Williams |
I stepped on the rake and the handle
hit me on the nose, and Joshua roared in laughter.
I frowned and
turned. Joshua was holding his stomach and pointing. His dad grinned.
“It’s not
funny,” I said with a pout. My nose felt hot to the touch. With Joshua now
doubled over, having a rip-roaring time at my expense, I snapped at him. “I may
have broken my nose, Josh.”
He calmed his
laughter long enough to say, “That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, Mom.
Like a comedy skit.” He mimicked what he saw and said, “She steps on the rake
tines and bop, gets hit in the nose.”
That did it.
I stomped past
him and into the house. Tears stung my eyes as I peered into the mirror. My
nose looked like Rudolf’s, and then it dawned on me. My son laughed. I couldn’t
remember the last time he had laughed. I made my son happy. Still looking in
the mirror, my features relaxed. I nodded and smiled. “It was worth it.”
I met Joshua in
the hall and touched his arm. “That must have looked funny, huh?”
Joshua beamed.
“That was classic, Mom, just classic.”
That night in
bed, I grinned and thanked God that I made my son happy, even if my nose still
hurt. Little did I know Joshua would never laugh again.
In a few short
weeks, Joshua would take his own life.
Father, I’m glad
my son had laughter one more time before his death. In Jesus’s name, I’m
grateful. Amen.
Reader Journal
~Your Mother
Memories~
~Your Prayer of
Praise~
~A Scripture of
Encouragement~
Jean, you have written so beautifully and openly about your son, his trials and yours. I hope you are closer to getting this in print. Just like I keep copies of Dodie Osteen's "Healed from Cancer" for those who get a cancer diagnosis, your book would be another I would want to have on hand for those who grieve the suicide of a child. So proud of your courage in writing this, my sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your gift of encouragement. I need this, as anyone would. God bless you, Pat!
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