"...a time to weep..." (Eccl. 3:4)

As this has been a long two weeks of recovery from a surgery that has had a few complications, I finally broke down today in tears. Mostly tears of pain this morning. I have wanted to hold back on the crying because I have thought that crying wasn’t a good thing because it would give way to frustration and possibly a negative attitude towards healing. I have wanted to stay away from that as much as possible. So, when the pain was very intense this morning and a dear sister called and offered to bring dinner, I succumbed to tears. This made me think about tears and about crying and about weeping. There has got to be a purpose and a good one. I know it.

And there is. The story of Lazarus and his sisters tells a lot. It is in John 11: 1-46. Jesus is told that Lazarus, “He whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, the Son of God might be glorified thereby” vs. 3-4. So Jesus takes his time going to see Lazarus and Lazarus dies. When Jesus finally arrives he is met by Martha and Mary. He sees how sad they are. He asks where Lazarus has been laid. And “Jesus wept” vs.35. Jesus had compassion for them in their grief. He has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead. He could have responded and said to them, don’t cry. I can raise him up, watch me. But He didn’t. He wept with them. It was after He wept with them that He then asked “Martha, the sister of him that was dead” to take away the stone from the cave Lazarus was buried in. Martha responded, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” vs. 39. In His infinite compassion He brought forth Lazarus from the dead “that they may believe that thou has sent me” vs. 42. But first He wept with them.

As I try to put on a brave face and not cry, I realize that it is okay to weep. For there is a “time to weep” Eccl. 3:4. There is a time for everything. I can weep and it doesn’t mean I have a negative attitude. It just means I need to weep. And Christ will weep with me. I can be more compassionate in weeping with others, in weeping with my own children and in comforting them. Sometimes, we just need to weep to help ease our own and the burdens of others. In crying with others we can offer comfort, solace, and safety. It’s what the Master did and taught. It is okay to cry. This I testify.