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Joy and Sorrow in Community

June 23, 2023 by Lauren 10 Comments

I came across an old proverb a few months ago on joy and sorrow that I keep circling back to chew on: “Shared joy is double joy.  Shared sorrow is half sorrow.”

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These thoughts are beautiful in their simplicity, and yet the more I meditate on them, the more depth I find.  I have written many times on the importance of community.  And the challenges I have with it.  And the longing I have for it, as well as the blessings I find in others.  But community holds a special place in my examination of joy – my word of the year.

 

Breaking Down Joy and Sorrow with Others

 

I bought a little house decoration I found on clearance for my bedroom.  It says, “Double Each Other’s Joy”.  A reminder in the room I share with my husband.  And while I think intentionally doing things that would bring joy to a spouse or a friend is a great way to show love, I see the wisdom in sharing our joy with our loved ones as well.

 

Think about the first thing you want to do when something great happens.  Who do you want to tell?  I know the super spiritual thing would be to pray with gratitude immediately.  But my first instinct is usually to tell my husband and then my mom.  And then depending on how good it is, maybe a couple of friends and my sisters.  But I don’t believe this is an unspiritual reaction.  One of the bible verses I am memorizing this year says, “I have so much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.  Instead, I hope to visit and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”  2 John 12 NIV

 

Even the apostle John found joy in a face to face visit.  That passage often makes me think of my best friend, who lives in another state.  We call each other often to catch up, but sometimes we take advantage of FaceTime technology.  I just love to see her face and expressions when I share my news.  Seeing her – even on a little screen – is the next best thing to visiting in person.  It brings me joy!

 

The Flip Side

 

Why do we need community in our sorrow?  Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each others’ burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” NIV  Western culture tries to convince us that we are only strong when we are independent.  That we can handle the thing and do it ourselves.  But that’s not God’s culture.  The truth is, no one truly does anything alone.

 

A couple of years ago when Kylie Jenner appeared in Forbes magazine as the youngest self-made billionaire, she created an uproar.  She built a make-up empire from money that she made modeling.  Sure.  And I don’t mean to take away from the business savvy she must have to turn it into billions, but she came from money.  And a famous family.  These things created a serious leg up that most people will never have.  As did Donald Trump’s loan of $1 million from his father, a sum the average joe would never qualify for.  And may that be the last time I use a Trump or a Kardashian as a devotional illustration!

 

Back to my point.  We all come from somewhere or something that helps us along our way.  God first and foremost.  Not only does He own all and give all, but 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV describes Him as the ultimate comforter “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  That’s how shared sorrow can be half the sorrow.  When we carry it with others, it doesn’t feel as heavy.  God comforts us, we comfort others and in turn, they comfort us through life’s obstacles – big and small.  It’s a cycle that keeps going when we participate in it.

 

And it all leads to joy.  Share your joy below so we can rejoice with you or share your sorrow below so we can comfort you through prayers and encouragement.  And don’t forget to share with your friends and family members IRL.  In this small obedience, we can bring the kingdom of God to earth.

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

There is not much I like more than historical fiction, so I had to share Linda Stoll’s recommendations as I’ll be checking them out too!

 

The Link Up

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

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Filed Under: Christian, community, Grace & Truth Link Up, joy, One Word, suffering, Word of the Year

Comments

  1. Tea With Jennifer says

    June 23, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    Great post Lauren! Sharing with my late hubby was one thing I found I missed the most after he had passed away.

    I would be driving along & saw something that would have been of interest to him & thought, ‘I’ll have to tell Ed that’ & then of course I realised he wasn’t here any longer to share with…
    Blessings, Jennifer

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 27, 2023 at 11:46 am

      Thank you for sharing, Jennifer.

      Reply
  2. Paula Short says

    June 25, 2023 at 9:53 am

    Humm… Pausing to reflect upon your words today. I’m one for seeing the flip side. I ask God to show me things from His eyes instead of mine.
    Visiting today from G& T

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 27, 2023 at 11:45 am

      Great prayer, Paula.

      Reply
  3. Lisa notes says

    June 28, 2023 at 6:13 pm

    Community is so important! I’m grateful for the small but powerful community I’ve had with me the past year and a half to walk with me through a struggle. It’s not over yet, and my sweet community is hanging in there with me. I’m so thankful. It makes such a difference.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 29, 2023 at 11:34 am

      I’m so glad you’ve had good people to lean on and I’m saying a prayer for you and your struggle right now.

      Reply
  4. Linda Stoll says

    June 29, 2023 at 9:55 pm

    ‘Double each other’s joy.’

    It’s like that prepares us to be present with each other during the hard stuff.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 30, 2023 at 12:46 pm

      Good point, Linda!

      Reply
  5. Cecelia Lester says

    July 7, 2023 at 11:46 am

    Sometimes we forget the message of this thought. I have to share my hurts and sorrows in order to keep my balance. Several of my friends have been praying for me since early last month (June). Hubby’s health is not good and, yet he seems not to care. I do have a great joy. Our son lives 100 miles south of us. He took some time off work and instead of going out of state, He chose not to and spent some time with us.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 7, 2023 at 1:12 pm

      What a blessing to have a son like that. I’m sorry your husband’s health is suffering and I’m saying a prayer for you both right now.

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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