Matthew

 

I went to visit my aunt in Florida last week. 

For years, I’d heard about her neighbors, Isabella and Matthew, but I’d never met them until this trip. 

A few years ago, Matthew had a stroke. 

He lost his ability to speak. 

He understands perfectly. 

He moves perfectly. 

He is in good health. 

His voice is just stuck. 

He can’t get out his words. 

 

He’s such a kind man. 

Such a hospitable man. 

He smiled and engaged in conversation the whole time we were there.

He pantomimed his thoughts. 

He joked with Isabella. 

His voice was just stuck. 

He couldn’t get out his words. 

 

My aunt said she’d like to reach inside and pull the words out of him. 

I agree. 

I’d like to reach inside and bust the dam and watch all of his words rush out and overwhelm the room with sound. 

 

But alas.  

The stroke paralyzed his vocal cords. 

They can’t be fixed. 

His voice is just stuck. 

He can’t get his words out. 

 

It makes me sad. 

 

But it also makes me determined

To use my voice for good

And not to take it for granted. 

I’ll do it for Matthew. 

Maybe you can too. 

 

Amen.