A time to cry . . . Ecclesiastes 3:4
Humans are the only
creatures on earth that produce tears. We are hard-wired to cry. Before we
looked at the faces of our parents, before we were snuggled into a warm blanket,
we opened our mouths wide and wailed with gusto.
There’s something to be said for bawling like a baby. When stresses
accumulate, often the best thing to do is to have a good cry. Some wise people
recommend it.
Often, when we feel God near, our first inclination is to weep. Somehow
His presence melts the layer of toughness we develop to help us survive in the
world. When we come to a moment of truth, when it’s just God and us, the
barriers come down and tears flow.
We cry sad tears in times of grief and loss. We cry for joy at weddings,
births and graduations. When the first note of a cherished piece of music hits
the ear we become misty-eyed. In many circumstances weeping is the most
suitable way to express ourselves.
Tears are a gift from God. We should never be ashamed of them.
When tears of trouble flow the best thing to do is mix them with prayer. When
we weep before God He helps us see our troubles from His perspective. Sometimes
a little adjustment in our thinking is all we need to chase troublesome tears
away.
All these wept: Abraham, Esau, Jacob, Joseph, Naomi, Ruth, Hannah, David,
Hezekiah, Esther, Job. Several times the entire company of Israelites broke out
in tears. There’s a time weep, but God promises that “those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5).
The mind can’t put into words what the emotions can express through tears.
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all
my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ability to cry. It serves me well. When I can’t
express my prayers in words you understand my tears.
***
Rose McCormick Brandon is the author of Promises of Home - Stories of Canada's British Home Children, One Good Word Makes all the Difference, numerous magazine articles and personal stories for compilations like Chicken Soup for the Soul. Rose writes two blogs, Promises of Home and Listening to my Hair Grow. Contact her at: rosembrandon@yahoo.ca
2 comments:
Thank you, Rose. I've had conversations in recent years about emotional feelings and tears, with a number of folks - all seniors, myself included, of course. The consensus emerged that as we age the empathic and poignant emotional point seems closer to the surface. As always, I appreciate the spiritual life touch you bring to your topic. ~~+~~
Tis true, Rose. We cry for different reasons and always strong emotions. Thanks for sharing.
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