On Joy and Sorrow
3 of my favorite people...William (great grandfather), Pee Wee (great uncle), and Ed (grandfather)
On Joy and Sorrow
~Kahlil Gibran~
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
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.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
~Kahlil Gibran~
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
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.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
Happy Monday beautiful hearts! I hope that the weekend blessed you in beautiful ways. The above musing from Kahlil Gibran came into my awareness again after my family celebrated the life of my great uncle over the weekend. My great uncle passed away last week and it closed a chapter in our family. Uncle "Pee Wee," at the age of 95 was the last living brother. His death was bittersweet and marked with so much love. Several of his grandsons shared tributes about his passionate determination throughout his life, his service to his country, his love of family and his fierce competitive spirit. Family members celebrated his life in such a beautiful way. His short stature paled in comparison to his gigantic spirit. He and my Aunt Marilyn had been married for 67 years, and she passed 2 days after their anniversary. My cousin's tribute to his grandfather ended with this story...."After grandma took her last breath, Pap was sitting next to her, he held her hand and leaned in for one last kiss. After he kissed her cheek he whispered, I sure did love you." My cousin looked out into the congregation and shared that if his grandpa could impart one final thought with us, he was sure he would lean out and whisper, " I sure did love each and everyone of you."
As I think of Uncle Pee Wee, I feel inspired by his love and by his life. We are blessed to wake up each day with breath in our bodies, with a heart that is beating, and with dreams that are animating our present moment experiences. Death is the companion of life, the two dance with one another; mesmerizing our days and nights.
"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."
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah
As I think of Uncle Pee Wee, I feel inspired by his love and by his life. We are blessed to wake up each day with breath in our bodies, with a heart that is beating, and with dreams that are animating our present moment experiences. Death is the companion of life, the two dance with one another; mesmerizing our days and nights.
"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."
May You Sweetly Seek:)
In Gratitude,
Sarah
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