“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.”
I’ve been observing a lot of this lately. The loss of a loved one, the end of a marriage, even the breakdown of a long-term friendship can—and often does—cause deep grief. Healthy people know that life goes on and that they need to function in society, at work or at school. But grief doesn’t just quit. It’s the eyes. That’s where I’ve learned to spot it. It’s not the smile—or the absence of one. It’s not the boisterous laugh or the upbeat conversation. It’s the eyes. Sadness and grief cannot hide there. And that’s okay. In his other book, Solomon reminded us that there is a time for everything, including sadness—and grief. This truth isn’t about being phony or lacking faith. It’s about life in a real world, one we know is broken and dying. It’s about finding a way to reflect God in our grief to a world that, without Him, has no idea how to function when they’re in the depths of despair. It is about a watching world. Yes—and they see how God and His people handle grief, in contrast to how those without Him experience it. It points not to false joy or surface-level happiness, but to a deep-down joy that can only come from something far greater than ourselves. Our God and King understands the pain and suffering of loss—not only the loss of a loved one, but also the sorrow over His own dear ones, whom He created and loves deeply, yet who have turned their backs on Him. He understands our grief, and He carries us through it. Today, walk intimately with Him. #BeTheEdge
“a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV
