Sorrow

There are some things I can’t erase from my memory. Hurtful words and actions against me or those I love are seared into my conscience. I don’t want to remember these things or feel the emotion that goes with remembering. I can’t recall what I had for lunch yesterday, but I can relive the painful interaction with a teacher, coach, boss, or friend that took place decades ago. I have worked to forgive, but I still can’t forget. That’s what makes today’s passage so amazing to me.

The seasons of life are threaded together by high times and hard times. The great joys that come with relationships, weddings, and a baby’s entrance into the world, are woven together with low times. Broken relationships lead to broken hearts. Death of dreams disappoints.

The fact of the resurrection finally drives out all pain, sorrow, loss, and tears. The resurrection replaces our present anguish with great joy.

Sorrow is exhausting. The emotion wears us out. Pain takes its toll.