Reply from the Highlights Editors
“I don’t know the answer, but your question reminds me of a story,” says Senior Editor Marileta Robinson.

“Once a man asked a painter to paint a picture for him. He told the artist that he didn’t want any shadows in the picture, just sunshine.

“When the man saw the finished picture, he was disappointed. It didn’t look right. Without shadows, everything in the picture looked flat and unreal.

“The point of the story, of course, is that we need both shadows and sunshine to have a complete picture, just as we need both rain and sun to have a living world. Perhaps people, too, need both sadness and happiness to be complete. We often learn important lessons during sad times.

“For example, if you are sad because you had a fight with a friend, you might learn to appreciate the friendship more. If you are sad because you did poorly on a test, you might study harder for the next one. When you feel sad, stop and think about what you might learn from the experience.”

Best wishes,
The Highlights Editors