Healing Tears
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD." - 2 Kings 20:5
Tears are a good thing. Tears heal us.
Earlier this year during a visit, I met a woman who was taught that crying wasn’t allowed. Her parents told her that her tears were just a way to get attention. Yes, I realize some kids whine or cry to get their way, but this woman was never allowed to cry, so she learned to bury her emotions.
I’ve heard some say, “I’m afraid if I start crying, I’ll never stop.” I get that fear, but the truth is you will stop and you will eventually feel better.
I’ve also heard crying is a sign of weakness. But what if your tears were a way to purge your body of weakness. Would you cry then? Or do you want that weakness to stay with you?
Since when are tears NOT allowed?
Tears are most certainly allowed! They are crucial to healing. Here are seven reasons why we should cry:
1. Tears help us see.
2. Tears kill bacteria.
3. Tears remove toxins.
4. Tears elevate mood.
5. Tears lower stress.
6. Tears build community.
7. Tears release feelings.
I believe God gave us tears as a gift to help us cope with life. Rejection. Betrayal. Loss. Abuse. Disappointment. Disease. Death. The list of what breaks our heart is endless. To keep our hearts tender, we must allow ourselves to be broken. To deal with loss of any kind, we must grieve.