Rainbows

"The soul would have no rainbows had the eyes no tears" was a favorite quote That was starred in an old book of quotes that belonged to my grandmother. When I was young it appealed to me very much but not nearly as much as it does now. I've realized that with all the joys and blessings of life in this world come all the sorrow, pain and tears. In order to have an even, pain free existence we have to give up all the passion and joy. Feelings are not one dimensional. We only need to look at the uninhibited expressions and reactions of a small child who hasn't been tainted by the criticisms and judgements of those more mature people he/she encounters. The question is, do I have the strength and courage for all of life's experiences, even those I do not prefer, and am I willing to accept and endure the things I can't change in exchange for the exquisite joy and delight I've experienced along the pathways of my journey. Do you...?