「似乎憂愁，卻常常喜樂。」－哥林多後書6:10
她的美，有如月光照在枝葉上，讓地上的青苔在銀色的光點下顯得繽紛絢麗。她歌唱的時候，有如夜鶯低沉甜美的嗓音；她臉上的神情，從沒有期許過歡愉。所以她能溫柔慈憐地與哀哭的人同哭；然而，她卻無法與喜樂的人同樂。
「喜樂」也極其美麗...
他的美，是夏日清晨的璀璨光明。他的眼裡，閃爍著兒時的笑聲；他的髮絲間，處處是陽光熱情的吻痕。他歌唱的聲音，有如百靈鳥靈動高飄的音色；他走起路來大搖大擺，好像未曾嘗過失敗的領帥。他隨時預備好要與喜樂的人同樂；然而，她卻無法與哀哭的人同哭。
「憂愁」苦惱地對「喜樂」說：「我倆永遠無法合一。」
一抹陰影蒙上了「喜樂」眉間，他說：「的確如此。我的路徑，是陽光下青翠的草地；最美的玫瑰也要為我展露笑臉，畫眉也要等著對我高唱樂歌。」
「憂愁」輕輕的轉過頭來：「我的路徑，蜿蜒在幽暗的林間；我的掌心，滿了月下晶瑩的花朵；世上最美的歌－夜間深情的歌謠－也屬於我。再會吧！喜樂，讓我們珍重再見。」
就在互辭道別之時，他們感覺有人站在身旁；雖然面孔模糊難辨，頭上的冠冕卻透露了祂君王的身份。一股神聖的敬畏瀰漫在空氣中，他們不禁雙雙屈膝在祂腳前。
「憂愁」偷偷地悄聲說：「我看祂必定是喜樂之王。你看祂頭上的荊冕，手腳的釘痕，都是一個個勝利的標記。我願意撇開我的憂愁，享受祂無盡的愛和喜樂；我願意將我的一生獻給祂。」
「喜樂」低聲回答：「憂愁，你錯了。我看祂必是憂愁之王。看看祂頭上纏繞的荊棘，手腳深刻痛苦的釘痕不就明白了嗎？我也願意將我的一生獻給祂，因為我若與祂同處憂患，必定比我所認識的喜悅來得甘甜。」
於是他們倆不約而同的歡聲：「那我們在祂裡面就合而為一了；唯有祂才能使喜樂與憂愁並存。」
他們手拉著手，和祂並肩走向大風大浪，走向萬里清朗；和祂一同經過冬日的蒼勁與夏日的暖意。
「似乎憂愁，卻常常喜樂。」
"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).Sorrow was beautiful, but her beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the wood, and making little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss below.
When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to her.
Joy was beautiful, too, but his was the radiant beauty of the summer morning. His eyes still held the glad laughter of childhood, and his hair had the glint of the sunshine's kiss. When Joy sang his voice soared upward as the lark's, and his step was the step of a conqueror who has never known defeat. He could rejoice with all who rejoice, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to him.
"But we can never be united," said Sorrow wistfully.
"No, never." And Joy's eyes shadowed as he spoke. "My path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom for my gathering, and the blackbirds and thrushes await my coming to pour forth their most joyous lays."
"My path," said Sorrow, turning slowly away, "leads through the darkening woods, with moon-flowers only shall my hands be filled. Yet the sweetest of all earth-songs--the love song of the night--shall be mine; farewell, Joy, farewell."
Even as she spoke they became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a Kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him.
"I see Him as the King of Joy," whispered Sorrow, "for on His Head are many crowns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever."
"Nay, Sorrow," said Joy softly, "but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great agony. I, too, give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy that I have known."
"Then we are one in Him," they cried in gladness, "for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow."
Hand in hand they passed out into the world to follow Him through storm and sunshine, in the bleakness of winter cold and the warmth of summer gladness, "as sorrowful yet always rejoicing."
