“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 25:6-8
“Tears are a language God understands.” This refrain from an old song I remember hearing someone sing when I was much younger keeps playing in my mind. It is encouraging to think that God might understand my tears because I’m at a loss to even grasp the volume of them. Less than a year ago I was one who rarely cried. I wasn’t exactly against crying, I just didn’t do it. Now it takes anything and nothing to bring me to tears. A couple of Saturdays past the ladies of our church enjoyed a small, intimate prayer time. As we began our facilitator instructed us to take a deep cleansing breath. I did, enjoying the relaxation of the deep breath, but as I released the breath – tears. When instructed to bring anything that I feared or that would be a distraction to hearing from and speaking to the Lord, I had to confess that I was afraid that I would spend the whole time that morning just drowning in my tears. As I gave that up to the Lord I felt encouraged to let it be, to cry if I needed to cry.
I am encouraged by people’s reaction to my tears. I am so tired of them that I fear that others will be tired too. Not so. All who love me seem to completely accept my tears and my right to cry them. How I appreciate the people with whom God has surrounded me. I couldn’t be more blessed in this sodden valley. I have so many people who lift me up in prayer as often as they think of me – another blessing in the valley.
What a peculiar place to be – swimming in tears and drowning in blessing. Thank you Lord!
“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.” Job 16:20-21
GLEANINGS from Claudia 
Our pastor said on Sunday that our tears of sorrow here on earth are collected and become tears of joy when we reach heaven. We will be so happy to see those we dearly love that we cry for joy. And then God wipes away our tears, because there are no more tears or sorrow in heaven.
As one who rarely cried until Jason died, I can relate entirely to your post. Thank you so much for sharing.