Taking refuge in joy when sadness appears
Joy is where I take refuge.
The other day, my nephew was tossing kids around in the pool. There was laughter, noise and toys scattered everywhere. It was marvelous chaos. I was on the sidelines just thinking about how lucky I am to have a family that wants to spend time together, that takes joy in each other and where the love flows freely. It was pure joy for me.
Amid this joy was the knowledge that I had lost a friend recently and that we were about to bury a grandmother of 2 of the kids.
Joy and sadness don’t compete. They exist together. We carry the sadness with our joy. Joy reminds us that the sadness is easier to carry when we recognize joy in our lives. Joy is what gets us through the tough times. Even in times of deep sadness and loss there are ways to grab a little joy and lighten the load. The sound of a bird singing, sunlight on water, a great cup of tea, a child’s laughter, a hug, a kind gesture—the opportunity is there.
That is where I take refuge.
