The Power of Tears

Sometimes a quick shower is exactly what we need to clear the air and refresh us.

The air outside was heavy when I arrived home from work yesterday. It was cloudy, but the forecast was not calling. for rain. I let my dogs out and went to pick a couple of tomatoes and some okra, when I felt the first drops. I hurried back inside as those drops quickly became a steady pour.

We have been in drought here in Georgia, and we desperately needed the rain. I stood and watched it from the porch for a few minutes, totally appreciating how cleansing a good rain could be.

I was reminded of a recent visit with a friend of mine who has been having a really rough time lately. Life has been throwing her one hard ball after another.  Now this lady is tough as nails, but she finally broke down the other day and cried.

Then she apologized for being a “cry baby,” which I assured her was ridiculous. It’s really unfortunate that society has taught us that crying is for the weak.

I read an article in Psychology Today, that reported that emotional tears actually contain stress hormones that are excreted out of our bodies when we cry. It also stated that studies suggest that crying actually stimulates endorphines, our body’s feel good hormones. Furthermore, human beings are the only creatures known to shed emotional tears.

Isn’t that interesting?

Children have no trouble shedding tears when they are hurt or sad. It’s only as adults that we consider shedding them some kind of character flaw.

The science suggests that we were biologically set up to feel better after we cry. Why would we consider crying to be a weakness?

We know in the Bible that Jesus cried. When His friend Lazarus died and everyone was crying and mourning, the text says simply, “Jesus wept.” John 11:35

His heart was moved. His heart was troubled, and the Son of God wept.

I can’t imagine anyone thinking Jesus was weak or a cry baby. Quite the contrary, as Christ followers, we are supposed to seek to understand and follow all that He did.

Jesus loved deeply. He cared deeply for His friends and ultimately for all of us. We are called to do the same and when we love others deeply and care deeply about the situations around us, we are sometimes moved to tears.

In the end, when we allow them to flow, we are simply acknowledging our humanity. If the Son of God wasn’t ashamed to shed tears over what moved Him, should we try to be any different?

After the rain at my house yesterday, the sun came out and the air felt much lighter. After Jesus wept in the Gospel of John, He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Tears have a definite cleansing power and perhaps a healing power too. They are an essential part of our existence on this side of heaven. One day, “there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4b

But, while we are traveling here, maybe we should embrace them instead of denying them.

A rain shower reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂