“Grief and joy work together to lead us to our one and only hope throughout every page of our story.” This quote and post from InCourage have been sitting with me for the last few days. The author’s words have been such a gift to me as I head into 2019 focusing on my one word of heal. (You can read that post here: https://www.incourage.me/2019/01/finding-hope-in-all-the-pages-of-our-stories.html)

Joy comes in the midst of grief! Joy finds a way to the surface. One of my favorite Scripture verses is from Psalm 30:5. “Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” The nights may seem to be long but joy always comes with the morning.

In the midst of this past year, I have realized how important that joy is. How important it is to spend time with those we love. How important it is to do the things that bring us joy and love. It is not lost on me how much my sweet kitty Luna needed to be rescued but in a lot of ways has rescued me too. I am so glad that we found each other. The silly things she does like hiding in a drawer, or jumping up behind the sink or chasing a toy bring a smile to my face.

As we grieve, it is hard to find joy. It is hard to uncover those memories that make us laugh or smile because it is so painful to recall them. Yet when we finally uncover them, we realize the gift there is in remembering together; the gift there is in celebrating the beautiful memories that have been shared together.

Recently I was reading Bob Goff’s latest book Everybody, Always when I came across this quote: “God has surrounded me with countless people, just like He has you. Plenty of those people are trustworthy lights who point me to Jesus through our relationships. Find those people in your life and lean on them a little. Be more vulnerable and transparent than you think you have the wheels for. Do it anyway. Sometimes when we ask God for an answer, He sends us a friend. Figure out who He’s already sent to you.”

The truth is that in the midst of grief, these lights seem to find a way to shine brighter than every before. I think of my friend who bought me coffee on my way home after Grandpa’s death or the many friends who expressed their condolences. And I believe it is because of these dear souls; our friends that we are able to be healed; not completely. Because grief will always be there. Grief will always find a way to the surface. Yet joy and grief can and do work together to remind us that we will never be left or forsaken.

You, my friends, have been that light for me. You have reminded me again and again that I am not alone. You continually shine God’s love in the midst of a broken world. And I am so incredibly thankful for all of you. Together, we can be healed when we live our lives as wounded healers who are called to hold each other in all of life’s joys and sorrows. Thanks be to God!

Linking up with Kelly and the Ra Ra linkup, Mary and Tell His Story, Holley and Coffee for your Heart, and Kristin and Porch Stories.