Crying is for Wimps

Woke up yesterday morning just fine...or so I thought. Apparently, I had a little bitty piece of calcium getting caught somewhere between my kidneys and my bladder. AKA...a kidney stone. I cannot describe the pain that I was in, but I will say that I cried. I don't think tears came out...well...now that I think about it...there were tears.

Why is it that men tend to say that crying is for wimps? This emotion is something that God gave as a normal human expression. People cry. This is not something to be ashamed of or that someone should try to suppress all the time. It is actually freeing when we cry because the emotion we tend to feel during these times cannot be expressed in anything other way except by tears...and it is okay.

I can understand the reaction that "non-crying" men have. They do not want to be perceived as one of those women who can't control their emotions all the time. We see them on TV all over the place. So, this crying business is a supposed sign of weakness.

This is were I disagree. Crying is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. You show those around you that you feel pain, that you have emotions, that you can express them like everyone else on the face of the planet. Everyone does this, and strong men show their vulnerability.

Father, help me to be real with all my emotions. I know that you have shed many a tear over us. I know that you have been angry with us and shown it. I know that you are filled with joy at times. I know that you have emotions that I cannot completely know. Lord, help me to be real today.