Heartbreak and Joy

What a roller coaster of emotions I've experienced lately... mostly as an observer of what's happening in the lives of many friends.  Oddly, everything seems to be centered around marriages and babies. 

Three friends have either just gone through or are now mid-divorce.

Three friends are expecting - one with his first and two with their seconds.

Two friends recently had children - one with twins, one with her second child. 

Another friend delivered her first child the same night the same night as our mutual friend and his wife went to the hospital and delivered their first... who was very premature and didn't make it through the night. 

I also just found out that one of my best friends from high school lost a child due to miscarriage last year, and I never knew.

Another friend lost his 4-year old a few months ago due to complications during surgery.

And yet another friend recently lost his 10-year old son, who was never expected to live beyond the first year or two of his life.

There are so many people experiencing so much joy, so much pain, and so much grief all at the same time.  It's amazing how simple it is to be wrapped up in your own world, to be experiencing the joy of being blessed with an amazing, healthy child and a strong marriage. 

I have moments when I question where I am in my own life, and then witnessing so many things my friends are going through, and I can't help but have a heavy heart, and yet be so thankful and so overwhelmed with love for my own child. 

Today is one of those days when Doodle had a complete meltdown, and I could see how very quickly the patience in our house ran out.   In the blink of an eye, I felt a twinge of pain.  I remembered my friend who just lost his newborn child two days ago.  I grabbed Doodle, ran upstairs, and just sat on the bed holding her until she calmed down.

She's a magical little girl.  Even when she's inconsolable, her presence consoles me.