Unbridled Glee

While we were vacationing down in Florida this week, I heard my wife laugh in such a free, gleeful way that it actually made me jealous of her for a minute. We were riding Space Mountain, and she was seated directly behind me. As you may know, the ride is very dark, so you don’t really see much more than a few lights and you rapidly scream by, but you do hear the other riders scream, or otherwise make noise. Through the din of other riders, and the sound effects of the ride itself, I heard the unmistakable sound of my wife giggling uncontrollably.

Luckily for me, it’s a sound I hear somewhat frequently so I recognized it. I was also incredibly happy that she was having a moment of unbridled glee just then. Those are the moments that make life worthwhile, whether they occur on a thrill ride while on vacation, laughing at a favorite movie, goofing around with our loved ones, or singing our favorite song. It’s those moments when we can’t help but express our joy. I know it’s easier for her to express joy than it is for me, but I also know there have been plenty of those moments for myself as well. Moments that make all the struggling and all the pain of healing completely worthwhile. Moments when I can honestly say that I’m glad I’m alive and experiencing this moment, right now.

I know I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything, and that’s how I know all that healing work paid off.