Sacred Tears: A Poem

Tears are precious to God, I believe, because they are the outward flow of an inward pain or joy in the heart that He created. He cherishes them so much the psalmist says that He collects them in His bottle and into His book.

The tears of my children and grandchildren are sacred to me. I value them because they are the outpouring of their hearts. I hurt when they hurt. And if they are weeping in joy, I celebrate with them. The Bible says "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).

Jesus shed tears. He wept at Lazarus' tomb. He wept as he looked out over Jerusalem in the distance, mourning her future. In Hebrews 5:7 we read, "While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God." I imagine those loud cries and tears were shed in those times when he went out to lonely places to pray, interceding for the people.

Tears were God's idea. He gave human beings the ability to cry. The Bible says we are made in His image. We also hear over and over that God's heart was broken by His wandering people. Because God weeps from a broken heart, we do so too. That is why He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

We shed tears for many reasons. Children cry when they get hurt, are disappointed, scared, rejected, and chastised, to name a few. Adults cry in sorrow for a loss, when angry, afraid, overwhelmed and overjoyed. They weep in hysterical laughter (my favorite kind), when their feelings are hurt, or in repentance. Please know, God savors those tears as sacred. Tears can be healing, they drain the sorrow and pain out of your heart, at least for a short time. Have you ever heard the term "a good cry?" Like "I feel so much better after a good cry." Tears are cleansing and relieving. Don't resist tears, let them flow.

Tears are sacred streams

of desperate pain

Brimming out of the heart

into God's tear bottle

cherished and stored in His book

where they'll stay forever

Tears are sacred ointments

as Gilead balms and cassia

myrrh for the suffering

anointing oil of olives

and the new wine

of the Holy Spirit

Tears are sacred elements

of a contrite heart

flowing tributaries

of confession and repentance

into the glad surrender

of a forgiving God

Tears are sacred pleas

for the yoke of His rest

to be held in His hands

as the lone lost sparrow

to be our rod and staff

in the valleys of dark shadows

Tears are sacred testaments

of grace upon grace

mercy and pardon

the blood of redemption

shed by the Savior

the remission of sins

Tears are sacred emblems

of promises of refreshment

for renewed faith from

a once stagnant heart

hope has come

it will fail us not