If our troubles looked like burdens, Our pain as bloody wounds, Our struggles, fears, and worries Were bruises, stripes, and runes; Would our sympathy be greater? Our gentleness grow deep? If we saw what makes one stagger And makes the steps grow steep?
If pain could cause an injury, If words cut like a knife, If we could see the ragged flesh, The slowly ebbing life – Would we choose our tone more gently? Would we think before we speak? Would we show more love and kindness? More hands to help the weak?
If our inner pain and sorrow Played out upon our skin, Would we treat each other different, Then how we’ve always been? Why would the sight of bruises, Of cuts and blood and gore, Be what it takes to get us To love our neighbor more?
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice…
Not always an easy call.
Rejoicing is easy when felt,
But what if it’s not felt at all?
What if their cause for rejoicing
Stabs a sharp-edged knife in your gut?
It saws and it tears at you mercilessly,
Making its horrible cut?
What if their joy is your sorrow,
Shattering your heart to bits,
Splintering the ruptured fragments,
And grinding to powdery bits?
What if their blessing weighs you
And burdens you to the ground?
What if it flattens, prostrates you,
Ceaselessly your back to pound?
What if their time of rejoicing,
Is instead, your season for tears?
The rivers in your head are broken
And your sobs start to work their gears?
What if, while the other rejoices,
The same fills you with dread and fear?
Apprehension, dismay, or even terror,
Are ever abiding and near?
Oh, Christian, with heart so heavy,
Ready to drown under thy load,
There is Someone Who will uphold you,
Give you strength, as you walk this road.
I can’t say that you won’t continue,
To water with tears, the steps you take,
Nor whether the pain will be lifted,
Or easy your load, will He make.
But He’ll strengthen you as you smile
And rejoice with those Heavn’ly blest.
He’ll bring comfort as you cry unto Him,
And bring your pain to Him, Who knows best.
If, in pain, you rejoice with another,
I promise, despite fear, you will find,
The Almighty Creator of Galaxies
Is loving, compassionate, and kind.
Trust the King of the Universe
And rejoice with your rejoicing brother.
For, in this obedience to Scripture,
We show love to God and each other.
Do you ever hide your face
In a pillow’s friendly folds,
Then let your heart break in bits,
And release the grief it holds?
Do you ever cling so tight,
To an object, stuffed, but dear,
A little doll or teddy bear,
And shower them in many a tear?
Do you ever fall to the floor,
Prostrate and unable to stand,
Letting the sobs overtake your being
Letting them have their demand?
Do you remember, oh, sorrowing one,
When you can’t hold it in anymore,
When you let loose those scorching tears,
When your heart feels like it has tore,
Do you remember the One on the cross,
Who rose with great power and might?
Who holds all of life in His great hands,
Who understand all grief and all plight?
Take your grief, oh sorrowing one,
Take it to the KING from the cross.
He’ll help you to bear the heartache,
He’ll help you to bear your loss.
The grief won’t just go away,
It won’t just give you a release,
But He will carry you through,
And give you His sweet peace,
But first, you have to surrender,
And let go of your own strong will,
Then, let Him take things over,
And in you, His peace, He’ll fill.
