Emelia, our beautiful baby daughter, due 21st February 2002, sadly stillborn one day before your birthday. Only those who have been through similar will understand that even in the midst of our deepest, darkest despare, knowing we would never see your eyes or feel your breath, you gave us such joy when you were born. You are always in our thoughts.
Alison and Miguel, your mother and father.
Our choice of reading for her service was by ~Kahlil Gibran - The Prophet~.
Your joy
is your sorrow unmasked
And the selfsame well
from which your laughter rises
was oftentimes filled
with your tears
and how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow
carves into your being,
the more joy
you can contain
Is not the cup
that holds your wine
the very cup
that was burned
in the Potter`s oven?
And is not the lute
that soothes your spirit
the very wood
that was hollowed
with knives?
When you are joyous,
look deep into your heart
and you shall find
it is only that
which has given you sorrow
that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful,
look again in your heart,
and you shall see
that in truth
you are weeping for that
which has been your delight
Some of you say,
~Joy is greater than sorrow~
and others say,
~nay, sorrow is the greater~
But I say to you,
they are inseparable.
Together they come,
and when one sits alone
with you at your board,
remember that the other
is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended
like scales
between your sorrow
and your joy.
Only when you are empty
are you at standstill
and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper
lifts you to weigh
his gold and his silver,
needs must your joy
or your sorrow
rise or fall.
