THE LANGUAGE OF TEARS

HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. ³⁴ And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. ³⁵ Jesus wept.“ John 11:33-35

Jesus wept with those who wept. Sympathy and compassion like His, are great to be desired.

Tears relieve and soften and refine my character. Without them, it may be strong and impressive and useful — but it will be lacking in grace and tenderness. A lack of sympathy and compassion holds it back from perfection.

Tears give me power over others. Never do I get so close to them, as when I go to them in their grief. A grasp of the hand then, a few faltering words, a look of sincere love — and their souls are knit with mine. Sometimes Christ approaches nearest to a man when the man is sitting in the darkened chamber beside his dead — and sometimes I am able to do the same.

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THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

And tears make me a follower of Christ. For He is not only mighty and just and holy — but gracious and merciful and compassionate. He is like the great mountains — and also like the little flowers — violet, edelweiss, anemone — which add immeasurably to the mountain’s charm. It was God who stood beside the grave of Lazarus and wept!

So let me pray, as one did, for “the grace of tears.” If I am tearless, I fear I am loveless too; for as love is — so is compassion. He who has tasted the one in its power — cannot fail to be familiar with the other. They caricature Christianity, which would freeze the moisture of human eyes. Not women only, but strong men — David the soldier, and Jesus the Lord — do right to weep.