A few days ago I shared on my blog how life sometimes provides us with bitter pill to take and the only way to get it down is to dilute it, take it with something else sweet, and water it down to make it digestible.
I have had a situation when the bitter pill arrived and there is nothing sweet I can find in my own home, the cupboard was empty, the fridge was mean looking, everything was either bitter or sour, or at least that was how it seemed to me. At the same time, I understood that for my pill to get down I needed a dollop of sweetness.
I went to my first neighbour to check if there was any sweetness in the house, it was all bitter, misery sure loves company, as I started my story of woes, neighbour one could not wait to outdo me, sharing how bad things are and all the calamity he has been through. As I listened I felt my spirit dip. And I kept saying to myself “I am not going down” whatever the case may be. A friend once corrected me that the language should be “I am going up”. I quickly realised that the only way was down as long as I kept reciting my misery and keeping company with such. I quickly offered my encouragement and condolences and moved on. Neighbours two and three were not much different, they had a few trials and tribulations that required airing out, my bitter pill was not getting any easier to swallow, it was stuck in my throat like a lump. I was beginning to despair of life.
And then I got to neighbour four, he had good news! I almost bite off his hand! I was super excited. I was somersaulting and tumbling all over the place. Dancing and twirling, I was going up, this is my news, this is my victory as far as I was concerned. He got something he had been trying for years. Nobody was going to deprive me of the full force of partaking and rejoicing. I needed badly to dilute my bitter pills, I needed to ease and soften my pain and the only way was to appropriate and be part of another person’s joy. We rejoiced together, he was happy, I was happy, that was all that mattered. My bitter pill went down easier. Rejoice with those who rejoice!
Beautiful Ivory 