Dahlias
Bouquet from the Farmer's Market last Sunday
Bouquet from the Farmer's Market last Sunday
How do you hold joy and sorrow in your heart at the same time?
Joy in these glorious flowers
Sorrow in knowing this is the last of them for a time
Sorrow in knowing this is the last of them for a time
A metaphor for the unspoken joys and sorrows in our hearts
I'm celebrating National Blog Posting Month by starting a Wise Women Wednesday series.
Each Wednesday, I will post a question and I'd like to hear your thoughts on the topic. Comment each Wednesday for a chance at a giveaway! (4 for the month.) The winner each week will get a sample of tea, a surprise, and my thanks!
How do you hold joy and sorrow in your heart at the same time?
By the way, men can comment too!
14 comments:
With gratitude.
Through my strength and character. The joy and sorrow in our hearts is what makes each of us who we are as individuals. I wear my joys and sorrows proudly.
With grace. It is the joy in our hearts that helps us conquer the sorrow.
Nancy
I'm learning how, it's so hard. Your question is a good one. I know how to juggle both quickly, but I don't know how to experience them both at the same time.
You can only do this with God in your heart, and a smile on your face. You make the path walk on and this is the first step :)
I wish I knew the answer to that. I don't want to say that you can't know joy if you haven't also known sorrow, but it seems like the experience of each shapes one's experience of the other. I think CO Tea Lover is on to something with her answer. Gratitude is so important.
I often read these thoughts from
Kahlil Gibran when I think of my joys and sorrows. I think his wisdom is very powerful.
"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(or Tea) 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."
Mary Jane
Joy and sorrow are two halves of the whole of our lives. We have to see that we find enough joy to balance the sorrow. We need to look for the joy that is present in the midst of sorrow. We need to open our eyes and hearts to life, both interior and exterior. For me, it is God who gives the grace to do that
So many wise thoughts. Thank you all!
I love this series. JOY sometimes is difficult to hold onto when feeling great sorrow. But a reminder to myself to be open to what life offers and listen to the whispers and create JOY. I like Nancy's comment of Grace. Definitely, Grace!
Prayer and a good Sonoma red. :)
Steph-
You've had me thinking all week and I have decided...I don't know. Certainly I have experienced both at the same time. I vividly recall my mother's last days and having both Joy and Sorrow surround us (Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, Siblings). Still, I don't know how one deals with both emotions simultaneously. Maybe the answer is simple...survival skill. We need both to survive and somehow our heart can strike a balance.
Hugs-
Hootie :)
I am so inspiried by all of your wise thoughts. thank you!
This is a deep and thought provoking question (which I could not resist answering), but maybe the same way i would nibble on bittersweet chocolate ;)
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