Spring Milestones

As I sit here and write this, I am gazing at my service flag, hanging on my front window. Today is the perfect spring day. My windows are open, I can smell the fresh cut grass, the fragrance of the blooming flowers and I can hear the birds chirping. All things that make me feel grateful and blessed. This week marks a very special time for my family. My niece, Rose Yvonne, was born yesterday, March 24th, weighing in at 5lbs 14oz. She is beautiful. This weekend is a milestone. New life has taken form in so many ways.

Matt called me last night and I could tell he was beaming through the phone. "I saw a picture of Rose. She is beautiful!" Matt genuinely loves children. I could tell, even with thousands of miles between us, that he was sharing in the joy and awe of this new life.

The last month has been a very hard month for many of us. Afghanistan, the people of their country and our troops, have experienced such devastation, loss and chaos. These events have also marked a milestone for so many.

It is hard to balance both joy and sorrow all in the same breath; to appreciate the new life of spring and babies, while grieving the loss of life on an all too frequent basis.

Matt and I share the love of an author, Kahlil Gibran. In his book "The Prophet", Gibran writes of sorrow and joy:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
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 burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

As I sit her on this spring day, enveloped in the joy of spring and new life, I am mindful of the sorrow and joy of so many. I am blessed because of Rose, my family, the spring day and the love of a man in Afghanistan.