rejoicing and mourning

Short post this morning...

I've been thinking a lot about mourning with those who mourn and rejoicing or celebrating with those who rejoice (or celebrate)...  so many dear friends right now are on opposite ends of that spectrum, in deep mourning, or profound rejoicing, that daily I ponder how to love them each individually best...  There are many who are far more qualified than I to write on said topic.  Within the past few days, I've read several really heartfelt blog posts, reflections, and thoughts to that end - far more eloquent and wise than mine - so I will not try to rewrite that.

Rather, I leave you with this thought:

Majority of the time, I don't think we're supposed to (or need to) be above others, coming in as solutions to their suffering or interpreters of their joy.   There is a time for that, yes, but my gut says its far less often than we think it is.  Sometimes there are no words, there is nothing you can do, and there is nothing you can add - and we (often) cheapen the experience of others when we attempt to.  As similar (or not) as it might be to our experience, it isn't our experience.  It's theirs.

Majority of the time, I think we're just supposed to stand with one another.  To be with.  To mourn with.  To celebrate with.  Not with our words, or our solutions, or our whatever else we think we can add (unless they ask for that, in which case, honor them)...  but with our hearts.  Our feelings.  Our presence.

We are not meant to live life alone.  And in our brightest times and our darkest times, sometimes what we need most is just for a brother or sister to stand alongside us and say, "I'm with you.  I'm for you. I'm here."