It is delightful to be able to celebrate with someone for whom celebration is deserved or due.
To share in the pouring out of blessing into the life of another is contagious and the warmth of the blessed person’s joy radiates to all near them.
I remember years ago, our neighbors daughter and her hubby winning a very large amount of lottery money. When she came over to tell us, I was out hanging Christmas lights (or was us taking them down?), and her face was brighter than anything I was hanging. I also remember feeling a visit from the green-eyed monster.
That green-eyed monster raises it’s head in the ugliest ways, at the most beautiful, celebratory times.
As the blessings pour into the lives and hands of those around us, they can sometimes be reminders of the blessings we have missed, lost, or are out of our reach. When this happens it can feel as though we need to plaster onto our face a plastic smile, when you may just want to shout out:
“it’s my turn …”
“I have needs too …”
“I want to celebrate with you, but … my heart is breaking.”
For the woman desiring to meet and marry her prince, news of another’s engagement …
For the couple secretly mourning a miscarriage, the announcement of the pregnancy of another …
For the woman whose husband is in palliative care, news of another in remission …
For the student denied acceptance into their desired university, news of a peer getting into theirs …
can all have mixed effects on the hearts of those who are not living in the land of milk and honey.
But people, Romans 12:15 reminds us to :
“Rejoice with those who are rejoicing.
Cry with those who are crying”
It is good to rejoice for those who are ready to celebrate! It is also good to cry with those who are crying … but, to cry with those who are crying means that we need to share our sorrows with others, we need to share our sorrows, as we share our rejoicing.
God wants us to have community, to share our lives with others.
I love to share good news … but, oh, how I hate to bleed emotionally, in public.
Yet, when I have been strong enough to show my weakness to others, I am always amazed at how faithful God is to bless that sharing, and how blessed I feel by the supportive shoulders others provide. Actually, the freedom to share my sorrow almost makes me want to … celebrate!
God’s people, loving each other through rejoicing or tears, is the fulfillment of our purpose in living in community with each other, and “he turns our wailing into dancing” (Psalm 30:11).
itsawonderfilledlife 