“I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chatted all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow;
And ne’er a word said she;
But, oh! The things I learned from her,
When Sorrow walked with me.” 

-Robert Browning Hamilton

Do we learn more from sorrow than we do from joy?  I have had my share of sorrow, but I know others who have had more.  I have not lost a child, and I don’t want that particular sorrow.  It is not the natural way of things.  When talking with someone recently who had lost a child and now was facing the serious illness of another, I could feel her pain, but could not experience it the way she was experiencing it.  What sorrow that must be, to lose a part of yourself. Unimaginable. I think the above poem is true because we tend to take joy for granted. God put us here for joy but yet sorrow finds us.  Sorrow touches us each so differently and so strongly.  Some seem to handle things with ease but sometimes they are the ones who feel it the most.  I was driving down the street and for some reason, became so overcome with grief for the things my brother had never had in his life that I had to pull off the road.  He was only 17 and never experienced marriage or the birth of a child or being a Grandfather.  He missed out on so much and had so little time.  I have been without him for 72 years and yet still miss him.  I can talk about him and tell the funny stories about him but most of all I have missed his guidance and how protective he was of me.  When I was 6, a boy was picking on me at school, my brother held him, and I hit him with my little red purse.  I was looking at a high school yearbook and was surprised to see this boys picture. I have no memory of him in Junior High or High School, other than he avoided me in Elementary School after that incident.  My brother must have impressed him. What do we learn from sorrow?  To treasure those moments with others, to enjoy our time here, to turn to God with a grateful heart for what we have today, and treasure that we have lost, although I would argue we haven’t really lost it as long as we remember and can smile and treasure the memories. God gives us our memories as a gift.

Sing to the Lord you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30:4-5

 We thank you Lord that you walk with us and answer when we call your name. Be with those who grieve for what has been lost, for those who are dealing with sorrow and grief. Be with those who seek you, may they find you in our midst.  Be with our Pastor and his family, be with those who are our leaders, and our staff. May they feel your guidance and love.  Be with those who have strayed from your path, may they find their way back to you. We pray in Jesus name. Amen

Grace Epperson