He glanced up and said with a hint of humor, “You’ve got time for your old man now?”
We worked together in easy silence. As daylight faded, I noticed his hands trembling slightly.
He sighed. “Just tired. Your mom hasn’t been feeling her best lately.”
I didn’t think much of it. Mom always pushed herself for others.
The Weight They Carried in Silence
A week later, I learned something that rocked me to my core: my mom had been undergoing medical tests. She didn’t tell me because she didn’t want to add stress to my already full plate.
Early-stage cancer.
Treatable, thank God—but terrifying all the same.
When I arrived at the clinic, she smiled as soon as she saw me. “You’re here,” she said softly.
“Of course,” I replied. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Everything in me broke and strengthened at the same time. I knew I had to step up.
My wife became a huge support—cooking meals for my parents, checking in daily, and sitting with my mom during treatments.
One evening, I found my dad crying alone in the garage. I didn’t say a word. I just sat beside him. Sometimes silence is the best comfort.
An Unexpected Gift
Continue reading…
