Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward after Loss and Heartache

by Granger Smith

To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.2

Happiness happens to you. It’s something you feel when things are going well. It’s temporary. But joy is different. It’s an internal peace, a gift that can never be replaced or taken away, which means it can exist even alongside our deepest sorrow.