I was on my way home from a health checkup. Still groggy from the sedation after an endoscopy, I nodded off on the subway. I nearly missed my stop but snapped awake just in time. With my heart still racing, I got off and headed home, my whole body feeling as heavy as lead. Yet with the sun shining and a gentle breeze on my face, I decided to savor the rare calm of a weekday afternoon and took the longer route along the walking path.
As I strolled, I suddenly thought of my daughter and how much she loves watermelon. I bought one, tucked it into my shopping bag, and hoisted it onto my shoulder. Even though I’d chosen the smallest one I could find, it felt ridiculously heavy—probably because I was already worn out. My shoulder began to ache, so I hugged it to my chest, shifting my grip every few steps until my pace slowed to a turtle’s crawl.
When I finally entered our apartment complex, I saw workers spraying When I finally entered our apartment complex, I saw workers spraying pesticide on the flower beds. Oh no—our balcony door was wide open! Still clutching the watermelon, I rushed home. The moment I put down my shopping bag, I charged toward the balcony.
Wham!
I hadn’t realized the sliding glass door to the balcony was closed. Thinking only about shutting the open balcony door, I dashed forward—straight into the glass—and stumbled backward. My sunglasses dug into my face, making my eyes and lips sting. Without even taking a moment to feel the pain, I quickly shut the balcony door and let out a long breath.
One glance in the mirror told me I was a sight to behold; my eyes and lips were swollen and throbbing. Curious to see how hard I’d hit, I checked our home security footage—turns out I’d bounced back nearly a meter. It was so silly that I burst out laughing.
When I shared the clip in our family chat, my husband called, his voice full of concern. Laughing, I told him,
“You’re a lucky man. I make sure you’re never bored with my antics.”
My face may have been a mess, but my heart was full of thanks to God—thankful that the glass didn’t shatter, for experiencing my first-ever egg massage on a swollen eye, and for the moments of laughter He sprinkles into everyday life to remind me of my flaws and fill my heart. I can’t help but wonder—what will make me laugh tomorrow?