Where joy and sorrow meet

While I was home over Labor Day, Kristin gave me a copy of two really awesome books.  One is Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, and the other is Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen.  Reading them the past few days has been good and challenging.  The one which stood out to me most today, though was from Nouwen.  Kristin encouraged me to read from beginning to end rather than starting on the correct "date, "so this is the January 2 entry:

Our Spiritual Parents

Joy and sorrow are never separated.  When our hearts rejoice at a spectacular view, we may miss our friends who cannot see it, and when we are overwhelmed with grief, we may discover what true friendship is all about.  Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy.  If we try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy, and if we are suspicious of ecstasy, agony can never reach us either.  Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.

 What a challenge to remember how much these two are entwined and that we cannot truly experience one without tasting the other.  I cannot truly appreciate what I have unless I know what it is like to be without.  Praise Jesus for reminders like these!