For many years I've strived to be happy, especially since my father gave me Andrew Matthew's book, Being Happy!
But today...
maybe sorrow is a gift from God.
sorrow received allows us to connect with those in pain, and put their pain into our baskets of sorrow, as prayers lifted up in offering to the Lord, who gladly exchanges them with us for joy. so much that our mouths were filled in laughter, our tongues with songs of joy, no words, leaving bystanders to say " the LORD has done good things for them".
Learning Shir Ha'alot today, I realised this was the very same song that the Lord presented to me for my family on 11 July 2020:
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
The man who goes out weeping, carrying "pulling" seed to sow
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126.
Like the dream of Joseph
when the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
God I don't want to strive to "be happy", bring me into your loving presence and thank you for making me all that I am. Amen.
