“The difference between shallow happiness and a deep, sustaining joy is sorrow. Happiness lives where sorrow is not. When sorrow arrives, happiness dies. It can't stand pain. Joy, on the other hand, rises from sorrow and therefore can withstand all grief. Joy, by the grace of God, is the transfiguration of suffering into endurance, and of endurance into character, and of character into hope--and the hope that has become our joy does not (as happiness must for those who depend up on it) disappoint us.” DoeCharacterHandsPainJoySufferingDiesDifferencesGriefGraceDependsSorrowEnduranceShallowGrace Of GodDisappointLife HappinessSustainingTransfiguration Book:Measuring the days: daily reflections with Walter Wangerin, Jr Source: Measuring the days: daily reflections with Walter Wangerin, Jr
“So here comes Gabriel again, and what he says is "Good tidings of great joy for all people." That's why the shepherds are first: they represent all the nameless, all the working stiffs, the great wheeling population of the whole world.” PeopleWorldFirstsWholeJoyHealingPopulationWhole WorldShepherdsNamelessGreat JoyGabrielTidingsWheeling Book:Preparing for Jesus Source: Preparing for Jesus
