Tears

GUEST BLOGGER: Shirley Andersen

If there is one thing I’m known for, it’s crying. When one of my kids or grandkids scraped their knee, didn’t make the sports team, or were hurt by a friend’s harsh words...I cried. The first time my sixteen year old daughter pulled out of the driveway with her new license, when a boy broke her heart, and as she strolled across the stage in her graduation gown...I cry. I remember how I felt when it came time to move her into her dorm room, I feared my tears might be uncontrollable. Although I was proud she was going to college, and as my part as her parent I was to teach her to be a responsible adult and spread her wings, the thought of her leaving seemed unbearable. The idea of not seeing her sweet face and smile every day, coupled with concern over her well-being, made my heart heavy.

I was so extremely proud this past May when my son walked across the stage and received his college diploma. We were even more excited because it took him 25 years! Imagine the bottles and bottles of tears that flowed. I felt tears of happiness, gratitude, excitement, as well as sadness, anxiety, and motherly worry with every life decision either my children or grandchildren made.

When my grandson was planning for his wedding in 2020, you guessed it, I cried.

Knowing how I am, I knew there was so many tears that God may not have a bottle big enough to catch my tears. I often wondered if these situations were enough to be crying over or was I being too emotional. In that moment of mixed emotions, I desperately needed God’s comfort and reassurance, and I found it in Psalm 56:8. God reminds us He is intimately concerned with every aspect of our lives. God doesn’t judge whether our sorrow is “valid”. But because of His compassion, He catches every tear that is shed. It doesn’t matter how big or small, trivial or important, the sorrow might be. In this Psalm, David expressed grief over his situation, which was truly dangerous. Saul wanted his own son to be king of Israel and was hunting David in order to murder him. This forced David to constantly be on the move as he tried to escape. David was grieved, fearful and unsure about the future. Apparently tears flowed as he poured out his feelings to God. “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.

David drew comfort in knowing that no matter what he was going through, God had great compassion on him and gathered all his precious tears in a bottle. David trusted God with his Life and his future. He wasn’t embarrassed about his tears, and we need not be either, even when we wish we could hold them back.

Life Challenges us. Children grow. Seasons of our life change into normal status quo. When this happens, tears often spring up and efforts to contain them fall short. Dropping your child off at kindergarten, college, or watching them walk down the aisle to their new life can evoke a variety of anxieties and emotions. Remember God has compassion on us and our children. He is present with every tear shed, and we can count on Him to collect them. No matter what sorrow we face today, we can have confidence God cares.

As I’m rereading this it sounds different; some sad and some happy. Believe me these memories are happy. I am certainly known for crying. Yes, if there is anything sensitive happening chances are I’ll be shedding a tear or two or a million or two. It’s time something happy and good happened in our family. The last 12 years have been very difficult. Everyone’s life changed drastically when the most important person in our lives passed away; grandfather, father in law, father and husband. Still these memories were shared with those we love more than anyone, and they are all good. Not all is SAD but HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

My grandson, Corey married Rachael on Valentines Day 2 years ago and now in March 2022, I will be a Great Grandmother!

As I said, seasons change, people change, I just turned 70 years of age, or as I’ve been saying 70 years “OLD”. I have slowed down, moved to Connecticut so my daughter can help me with things I’m not as proficient at things as I used to be, like breathing and walking. Isn’t it sorta funny, things that have been such a part of your life since you were born, now you struggle with. But, then again that is the season’s of life. I know I’m a lot closer to the end of my life than the beginning. Andy used to say “I’m ready to go to heaven, but I’d just as soon take the next bus.” Me too.

However, I can only imagine what heaven will be like when I see Jesus face to face and thank Him for my salvation in person. I’ll thank God for the best family and the most wonderful friends at Fellowship Church that I’ve ever had anywhere.

My next beginning will be different for me, as there are...NO TEARS IN HEAVEN.

Dear Lord, thank you for loving my children and grandchildren even more than I do and for having compassion on them and me. Help me feel Your comfort and reassurance when I face new seasons of life and emotional challenges as a mother. Please tuck my babies under Your wing, guide them in their decisions and keep them safe. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son to the cross for us. How could we not love you in return and try our best to serve you the way you deserve? Thank you for daily leading me, providing for me, helping me be the woman you want me to be. God thank you for caring so much for me as to collect my tears in a bottle.

Amen