As Superstorm Sandy was battering the East Coast, I was going through some Really Bad Days, too. Nothing like losing myhome or seeing my community devastates, changed forever. But Really Bad Days nonetheless. And, I cried.<\/p>\n
It’s odd how, in today’s society, crying is sometimes viewed as a sign of weakness.\u00a0 In the presence of someone who cries, the person not crying might feel uncomfortable, inadequate, afraid.<\/p>\n
Yet, shedding tears is one of the most powerful expressions we have – whether of joy or sorrow, elation or frustration. A “good” cry on a bad day can be freeing, cleansing, and ultimately reviving. Not easy to go through, just as a Really Bad Day is, but necessary to “come out the other side,” and be able to face the challenge at hand with clear eyes and resolve.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, the onset of tears is also the onset of wisdom. Feeling hot, salty tears trickle down our cheeks can bring us to a clear realization of what our problem really is, and what we can do about it. Other times, flowing tears can be a stream that brings the bottled up emotions inside to the light of day outside – and reconciliation.<\/p>\n
The gift of tears, like that of laughter, is God-sent. We benefit from them, even as we suffer.\u00a0By accepting them for ourselves, we can accept them when others cry, too.<\/p>\n
The devastation that so many are experiencing now will be accompanied by many tears. Rivers of tears. Oceans of tears. And, I pray, cleansing tears that will, one day, give way to healed hearts rejoicing in what was not taken away, what good remains, what good days are to come.<\/p>\n
Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n
Maureen<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Superstorm Sandy was battering the East Coast, I was going through some Really Bad Days, too. Nothing like losing myhome or seeing my community devastates, changed forever. But Really Bad Days nonetheless. And, I cried. It’s odd how, in today’s society, crying is sometimes viewed as a sign of weakness.\u00a0 In the presence of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,4],"tags":[151,148,153,147,152,149,150,20],"class_list":["post-128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement-in-life","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","tag-bad-days","tag-cleansing","tag-compassion","tag-crying","tag-empathy","tag-healing","tag-really-bad-days","tag-understanding"],"yoast_head":"\n