responses to open letters, or more honestly a vent and a blessing.

So I get that there are lots of hurting people.
I have seen lots of it, trust me.

But I want to share a story of how to turn pain into joy.
If you are still reading this, well done.

When my son died tragically and suddenly in the hospital I told the doctors that I wanted to be the one to tell my wife when she came to after her emergency c-section. When she opened her eyes groggy from the meds she looked at me and I said the freaking worst sentence I have ever had come out of my mouth

"Honey, our baby died. I am so sorry"...

They began to work before her pain meds kicked in. She felt it. Her last thought and prayer (she has told me) as they wheeled her down the hall was "take my life God, save my child".

This is the prayer any mother will pray. It is a selfless prayer.

So I stood next to her as she lay there and I prayed a prayer that I am sure saved our marriage and perhaps more:

"Lord, we are here. We will hear the cries of babies and new life around us for days. 

Please be kind and do not allow our hearts to be hardened to their joy"

This is it.
When we can experience joy for others we are no longer living for ourselves. We are set free.

So, let me say that I am not saying your pain is not real.
I am not saying there are not scars and that the trauma of what happened to you.
I am not saying it does not at times well up in the least expected times.
It does for me and it hurts.
It sucks. 

I am saying do not harden your heart when others rejoice.