Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn – Romans 12:15 (NIV)
I love this verse, I love the fact that it is real. It recognises that we have good times and bad times, and that we need to both rejoice and mourn in community. However, I always saw these activities as quite distinctly separate. What I am discovering is that sometimes you are called to both at the same time. Another translation puts it this way …
As well …
It is Father’s day and Mr is away.
It is Father’s day and we are mourning the loss of a wonderful grandfather.
It is Father’s day and in the wonderful celebrations for my dad and my father-in-law there are some missing pieces. There are some sharp painful moments and dull aches. There is a wistful longing for what is not, whilst joyfully engaging in the present. There is a tension – today is the true definition of bittersweet.
Emotionally I am exhausted, it would be so easy to just shut down, shut out all these conflicting feelings that are sending my brain into overload. But I know that is not living. I know that is not fair to my girls, who are missing their dad. I know it is not fair to my family that I am celebrating with. I know it is not fair on me. Today I choose to taste the bitter with the sweet. Today I mourn with those who mourn, and I celebrate with those that celebrate as well. And although I do this imperfectly, I do it simultaneously.