Life in a Week

“Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” – Samuel Smiles

All of that comes in life unfolded this week. The full spectrum including the glow of a young woman getting ready to be married tomorrow to the birth of a beautiful little girl to the sudden death of a newly married young woman from injuries sustained from a fall. The miracle of birth to the unfathomable death of a daughter.

We all carry burdens, crosses. Knowing this does not make them go away, but it can make us softer, more gentle and compassionate. We all carry joys, crowns. And the burdens and joys weave together into life. Some linger and some jolt us suddenly.

In the sorrow of this week, heartbreak for a colleague who lost her daughter transformed into prayers and acts of kindness to carry part of her load, to do something, anything.

Live each and every day. And don’t wait to lighten someone’s load, to forgive, to love deeper, to laugh, to celebrate and to be a generous and kind spirit. We are on this journey together to survive the burdens and to be grateful for the joys.