November 7, 2010
Today I am Thankful…
…for emotion.
affection
agitation
anger
ardor
concern
desire
despair
despondency
drive
ecstasy
elation
empathy
excitability
feeling
fervor
grief
happiness
inspiration
joy
love
melancholy
passion
perturbation
pride
rage
remorse
sadness
satisfaction
shame
sorrow
sympathy
thrill
warmth
zeal
We only know true joy when we have experienced true sorrow.
It is from the depths of emotion that come words of beauty and devotion like this:
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go*
by George Matheson
1. O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
2. O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
3. O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
4. O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
*Click on the hymn title to read the story behind this beautiful hymn.
It is also emotion that moves our soul when we hear these words sung to a lovely melody.
I will honestly say that I do not enjoy every emotion; but I am thankful for the experience of every emotion. I must remember that my emotions are from God, they have a purpose, and are useful for His work in our lives.
Obtaining Mercy 