Laugh Together, Cry Together

Scripture: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” —Romans 12:15 (NIV)

One of my deepest desires as a husband and father is simple, but profound: I want a family that laughs together and cries together.

Growing up, I didn't always know how to do that. Emotions weren’t modeled much in my early life. Joy was expressed in big moments, but pain often went underground. As I became a husband and then a father, I realized something: if I wanted emotional connection in my home, I had to create it.

I had to learn how to go first. To laugh when it was silly. To cry when it hurt. To not hide the truth in front of my kids or wear a mask of strength all the time. I wanted them to know: You are safe to feel here. You are free to be fully human here.

This didn’t happen overnight. There were years of unlearning and learning, of missteps and mending. But little by little, God has been building a culture in our home where presence is more important than perfection. Where the living room becomes holy ground. Where memories are made not just through game nights and vacations, but through hard talks, hard tears, and shared hope.

Romans 12:15 isn’t just a verse—it’s a relational blueprint. If we want connection, we need shared emotion. And if we want that kind of home, we have to model it.

Reflection Questions:

• What kind of emotional culture did you grow up in?

• How do you want your family—biological or chosen—to feel in your presence?

• Are there places where you need to make space for more laughter… or more tears?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of shared joy and shared sorrow. Teach me how to create safe spaces in my home where emotions are welcome and love is constant. Let our laughter be loud, our tears be held, and our family be a living testimony of your grace. Amen.