My Truth

I can have tremendous joy and comfort in seeing the person who has overcome tremendous obstacles and circumstances.

I can rejoice and admire the strength and courage that I see in someone who has overcome countless setbacks.

I am thankful for the place that person ended up, a unique place defined by all of the difficulties that led to it.

At the same time,

I can mourn the person they would have been without the pain.

I can weep for the strength they developed by standing on wounded legs.

I can lament that courage is so often formed in the most frightening of circumstances.

My sorrow does not diminish my praise.

Don’t let someone take away your sorrow OR your praise.

When you walk through the fire, you should have both.

Both reflect something you learned in the depths that you will need for your future.

Your gratitude and praise will give you peace and hope.

Your lament and sorrow will give you a desire to change things for others.

If you are going to redeem anything worthwhile from tragedy, you need both.