Light and Dark, Joy and Sorrow
Good Morning, God!
“Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.” That’s Romans 12:15. Only it puts rejoicing first. Such good words, God, such good words. Rejoicing is easy. Weeping is not. Yet, how much more important it is to weep together, than to rejoice.
I remember a story from one of Maya Angelou’s books. Her son has been in a car accident and survived — but she is stricken with The Fear and Grief at what might have been. A friend sends her off to visit a woman who is a friend of his. The woman looks at Maya and tells her to SIT DOWN. YOU NEED TO CRY and YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH YOU WHILE YOU CRY.
We do need to cry WITH others, God. I suppose it is like the difference between “thinking words” and “SPEAKING words.” Word and Tears that are heard and seen — have been acknowledged. We need that, God, we need that.
Ah, but sorrows are not always what they seem. Years ago I learned that they can live inside us — like Giant Sea Creatures — that may be pulled up out of the deep by a seemingly small hook. Before, I didn’t understand how it was that Maya would be SO upset, as her son HAD survived. But, just now I realize that his accident was only the HOOK that brought up that HUGE SORROW from her past. It was a creature too big and too scary to be “fished for” consciously.
This morning a friend called and asked for help in dealing with her sorrow. It was Kit who saw that THIS SORROW was “A Hook” bringing up A PAST — but STILL PRESENT DOWN DEEP — sorrow. It is good, God, for such leviathans to surface and speak with us.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
It is often our sorrows that give us depth. If we have not lived fully with the sad issue then you are not much use when someone comes to you for help. I went through Hell when I was divorced after 25 years of marriage. I even knew my husband was going through mid – crisis which did not change the pain which lasted for years. God brought it up over and over again. I had many chances to choose to let go and did not know how. As a psychotherapist I had depth of pain that allowed me to connect to clients. Even the divorce and the depression were assets in that profession.
A doctor here on my fist interview with him said I needed to see a therapist. Not easy if you live same town and he was a psychiatrist. I was turned down by many because they knew Bill. Finally I found someone who has spoken to me many times over the years and although she was closing her practice she agreed. I was cured in 4 sessions! My girls could hear it in my voice. Dear God, I hope I never hang on the the negative so long again. Dear God thank you for providing the person to open up my very closed and tightly held grief and cleanse me!
Thank you Margie. Sorrow is heavy. It sinks deep into or souls. It won’t be buried but rides the front of our minds. Giving it acknowledgement by being able to find someone with whom to talk about it and its extensive effect, someone who can hear compassionately, a trusted friend or an open professional, is a gift.