By Lisa Kottenstette 
After my mom had a stroke, she could not speak and could barely move the right side of her body. This happened after a four-year-long journey of battling cancer with lots of pokes, scans, and appointments.
I don’t know about you, but to suffer a stroke after going through all this, I don’t think I would feel very joyful.
And yet, my mom was joyful.
I heard something today that perfectly described my mom’s joy during difficulty:
“When we look at our lives and the difficulties that we find ourselves in through physical eyes, we are going to become anxious, worried, afraid, and depressed. But when we view our lives and our difficulties through the lens of spiritual faith, it causes us to become confident and even have a joy that goes beyond what we are experiencing in that moment.”
My mom treated nurses and doctors caring for her with kindness, and worked hard whenever it was time for her therapy. I could tell the nurses enjoyed being around her, even though she could not verbally communicate with them. Nonverbal communication is powerful, which was apparent when watching my mom interact with people who came to visit or take care of her.
One nurse in particular who took care of my mom for five straight days (which was rare!) was very sweet to her. Even though Mom couldn’t talk, I knew she liked this nurse. When this nurse said goodbye on her last day, my mom held her hand a little longer and smiled at her. She was speaking to her, even though no words were uttered.
When we listened to worship music together in her room, she would raise her hands in praise. One day when she was a little more alert, she even sat on the edge of her bed and moved her shoulders back and forth, dancing to the song “I’m So Blessed.”
She couldn’t speak, she couldn’t feed herself, she couldn’t dress herself, she was being poked daily, she had cancer raging through her body . . . and yet she was dancing to a song called “I’m So Blessed.”
What an incredible last message she gave to her family and those watching her. Even in trials, we can be joyful. Even in difficulties, we can praise. Even when we are in pain, we can be kind to others.
I know my mom would want me to share that her strength was not what made her joyful. It was not her amazing personality (although she did have a wonderful personality). No, it was Jesus.
It was her faith in action. She knew this world is not the end. From the time she started following Jesus as a teenager, she knew His words were true. She felt His peace and presence during trials in her life before, so she had the faith and confidence when this last and very difficult trial came. She could trust Him.
The Bible says if we don’t praise Him, the rocks will cry out and the trees will clap. All creation will praise Him if we don’t. (“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” Isaiah 55:12.)
I am so thankful for the example my mom gave me of rejoicing in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and in difficulties. For when we are weak, God is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)
by Julie Hoag 
by Vanessa France 
