The sky will be brighter tonight for the addition of Toby's star.
Writing "On Joy and Sorrow," Khalil Gibran tells us:
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.
Barb, nursing Toby over the last months and now setting him free has hollowed out new places in your heart - a heart that grew bigger to hold your incredible love for him. Someday I hope the new hollows carved by today's sorrow will fill with joy again.
For now, I wish I could hold you in my arms and cry along with you.