Why Pain & Joy Mix

“Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself” -- C.S. Lewis

Last weekend my nephew, Sean, graduated from college and on the same day, my sister, Amy,  lost her friend after a long battle with cancer. Amy wrote me a brief, but poignant note.

I asked if I could share this with you since it kicks off a week with a hopeful frame of reference. Here are her words:

The morning of Sean's college graduation, I found out my dear friend, Nancy, had passed away. I thought this news would turn a joyous day into a downer.

But, the opposite was true.

I found myself embracing the day and relishing the people and accomplishments even more. When I thought about it, all the bad or difficult things in our lives are really there for our benefit. How we really never know, enjoy, or embrace things without the struggle.

Would we really know joy without sorrow? Would we appreciate peace without conflict? Would we relish rest without work? Enjoy pleasure without hurt? Heaven without earth?

I really don't think I could understand any of it without the pain.

It's almost like pain is the birth of gratitude.

When we've given birth to a child, we can't imagine our lives without that child. We see the hole that was missing, the lack of joy. But prior to that we just had no way of knowing.

So I believe loss, sorrow, pain, heartache, suffering, is a gift and a blessing from God that I desperately try to avoid but will so gratefully welcome.

Do you see pain and suffering as an enemy or as something with a higher purpose? I struggle with this idea, to be sure, but I'm encouraged and inspired by my sister's strength and perspective.

I hope you are as well.