“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

--Anne Bradstreet

Spring is a time for renewal -  when life regenerates.  Our bodies are rejuvenated as we shake off the bitter cold and long hibernation of winter.  We awaken to the crispness of the fresh spring air.  Flowers and trees begin to blossom, bringing fresh color and fragrance.  Our senses are heightened; the warmth of summer is on its way.

But - what if - what if, inside your own heart spring is not awakening? What if something is happening in life right now that is stirring deep pain, suffering, conflict, or fear.  What if this is a time of loss, disappointment, letting go - relational, financial, physical, or emotional?

If so, then perhaps this season is a time for greater compassion, empathy, and patience  Perhaps it is a time to trust,  to fully grieve the winter loss.

Every instinct within us resists pain, sorrow, fear, and suffering.  For good reasons, our natural inclination is toward happiness, joy, and peace. This is our natural state.  But the Laws of Life speak to a difficult truth.

“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.  Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was b urned in the potter’s oven?”

-Kahlil Gibran

Though instinctive, when we fight against the pain, we actually block our ability to experience genuine happiness.

“To spare oneself from grief at all cost can be achieved only at the price of total detachment, which excludes the ability to experience happiness.”

-Erich Fromm

As we move through life, we are wise to recognize that pain, loss, and suffering can be great teachers,if we allow ourselves to learn - with gentleness and understanding.

 “Those things that hurt, instruct.”

-Benjamin Franklin

When we feel the pain, anger, and  loss, it is, at best, bittersweet.  Clearly, there is no more difficult human task than grieving.

Andto the depth that we love, is the depth of our grief.

                                                     “The risk of love is loss,

                                                  And the price of loss is grief -

                                                        But the pain of grief

                                                           Is only a shadow

                                                 When compared with the pain

                                                       Of never risking love.”

-Hilary Stanton Zunin

We must allow the cleansing of our tears to heal our broken heart, to restore it to joy.

 “Tearless grief bleeds inwardly.”

- Christian Nevell Bovee

It is essential, however, that we are not alone in our pain.  All healing, transformation, and true happiness is experienced in relationship - never in isolation.

 “He that conceals his grief finds no remedy for it.”

-Turkish Proverb