My thoughts wandered backwards in the last few months, there has been series of events, in my life and it was a beautiful blend of sorrow and joy, while I struggled dealing every problem, I realized that I emerged stronger and a better person.
I quit my full time job to respond to my son and ended up taking care of my husband who fractured his knee.
While I am busy trying to help my husband recover, there is a death in our family, my sister in law’s first baby girl is born and dies.
Then comes a beautiful celebration in my life, my daughter confirming her faith in Jesus, and I am filled with sense of wonder as to how quick my daughter has grown, we relive our childhood and are renewed in our faith in God.
It helped us to appreciate our parents who brought us up in faith, and taught us to pray at all times. This made me thankful for the lovely gift of my daughter, and also for the gift of faith.
Our son Emmanuel has a good time, having us around him all the time, participating in the celebration with his sister, and we assure him that we shall also have a celebration for him when he is 10 years old, he laughs innocently, and enjoys the music and celebration.
The following month, he has mild fever and cough, he is treated for that, and then he joins in the celebration at his sister’s school, celebrates his birthday and within few days he develops cold, cough and fever, and within 25 days, he is moved into the intensive care unit.
He struggles to breathe, and it was extremely painful to watch, while we stood holding his hands on either side, letting him go peacefully was a challenge, and unforgettable moments of our lives. Finally our son leaves the earth forever.
My experiences have taught me that joy and sorrow are of the same coin. We shall always have a combination of both in our lives. My life contains both, the painful memories of our son, and at the same time delightful experiences of our daughter who is alive.
I recall the great author Kahlil Gibran who says, “ that joy and sorrow are inseparable, your joy is your sorrow unmasked. The deeper the sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
"When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater." But I say unto you, they are inseparable. Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed. “
Be Happy!
G Angela