Monday 6 September 2010

How can a week be so sad when there is so much to be happy about?

I know life is full of contrasts, but sometimes they seem so mixed up with each other I don't know whether to laugh or cry. So end up doing neither, which weighs heavily on me.

Sadness.
Farewell to dear friends, leaving our tiny town for a distant continent.
Happiness.
Thankful that we know them. A dream of visiting one day. Anticipation of long chats on skype.

Sadness.
Remembrance of our dog, now several months deceased, his absence still a pain in our hearts.
Happiness
as we watch the rabbits playing around his grave.

Sadness
Leave-taking of beloved 'children'. Those two special adults who live with us in our house during high days and holidays.
Happiness
That they have listened to God's call on their lives, seeking to live out Isaiah 61:
the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 
because the LORD has anointed me 
to preach good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 
to proclaim freedom for the captives 
and release from darkness for the prisoners, 
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour... 


Sadness
that the summer is going as we return to school
Happiness
thankful that the weather has been wonderfully warm and sunny and that I am returning to a job I love.

Sadness and happiness. Intertwined, indistinguishable. 

7 comments:

XxMadyGurlxX said...

Hi, im Madison. I really admire your optimism in tough situations.. its really hard to do.. deffinatly with deaths of dogs and stuff.. i know it still bothers me that my dog had died, but at least she is in a better place. I really enjoyed your blog(:

Mama Mpira said...

Hi Madison - thanks for stopping by.

I don't have a huge amount of natural optimism, actually - but I do know that Jesus loves me whatever is going on in my life, and that really helps with sad stuff. It is six months since Mpira died, but I still miss him so much...so I feel sad and comforted at the same time!

Debbie Giese said...

Isaiah 61...my favorite. That is God's call on my life, but I'm in the phase of wondering what that looks like for me. Writing, I suppose. I heard the term "Print Missionary" for a Christian writer. Seems appropriate!

Debbie Giese said...

Isaiah 61 speaks to me as well...I believe it is God's call on my life too. I heard the term "Print Missionary" for Christian writers...seems appropriate.

Mama Mpira said...

I love that term - 'Print Missionary'! Now, that IS something to asppire to. Thanks for that, Debbie, and may you be richly blessed as you bless others.

Jess said...

Hey Sweet Lady,
What a pleasure to meet you in blogland through Rachel's Devotional Carnival.
I so appreciate your thoughts about the sadness in our lives mingling with the joy.
Going to have to post about that!
Blessings~

Mama Mpira said...

Thanks Jess - yes, life is full of contrasts. Your comment prompted me to write an update on this post...almost following the same theme this week of 'simple pleasures'. Let me know when you have posted about this too, I'd love to read it!