The Sword of Joy

In a land long ago, but not too long ago so as to forget, a young boy is praised for his valiance in battle and his strength and bravery. He wields his sword high above his head and everyone praises his name. He is a warrior! His joy is his weapon, and he brings joy to all people far and near. People look to him to feel better, to be able to smile, and to lift their own heads high.

But somewhere along the line, the boy forgot how important it was to be honest with both himself and others. Somewhere along the line, he learned the secret of keeping people at arm's length, and wearing a mask of joy. Somewhere along the line, he forgot how important it was to smile AND grieve.

He had been living a lie by always feeling like he needed to be joyful so that others could be joyful. In the end, he needed to be reminded that both laughter AND tears are important, and being honest with yourself and others about how you really feel is of the utmost importance. He didn't always need to wield the sword of joy; his sword could represent all kinds of honest emotions.