"If it doesn't work out there will never be any doubt that the pleasure was worth all the pain."

"Douglas: Will you keep out all the sadness?
Max: I have a sadness shield that keeps out all the sadness, and it's big enough for all of us."

This is from the movie "Where the Wild Things Are" when Max has just been appointed the Wild Things' king.

In so many ways I wish this were possible. To never have to hurt or ache again. To be pleased all the time. Life would be so much easier. But I think that's the point. We're not supposed to be happy 100% of the time. Without sorrow and pain, the pleasant, happy, and enjoyable moments wouldn't be as pleasant, happy, and enjoyable. Without sadness everything would be dull and unimportant.

Recently, I have been struggling with some sadness. I am sad to leave my friends for 3 months. I am sad about relationships that have dwindled or disappeared this year. But for all the sadness that is in my life, there is a hundred times more happiness. Sure, I have those days when I just want to crawl in a hole and die. But the weekends spent adventuring around the city with Sara Beth, Katie, and Lyle are so much better because of it.

Without sadness, there is no happiness. God didn't put us on this earth to go through life without any feelings and to just go through the motions. He wanted us to be joyful! A sadness shield might sound nice, but how are we supposed to take advantage of the blissful and "on top of the world" moments if we don't know what it is like to be sorrowful and heartbroken?