Thursday thoughts: Tears in a bottle By JILL JOHNSON Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Ask anyone who knows me well and they will confirm that I am a crier. I can cry at a movie, a commercial, an accomplishment, and just about anything else. I also have the "gift" of sensitivity and get my feelings hurt easily. I am very aware of this about myself, and it becomes an issue that I have to process through quite often. I certainly don't want to intentionally hurt someone's feelings or cause them any pain, but the truth is I am human. I have said things in anger or maybe my words have been misunderstood, but I know I have hurt others' feelings at times. The last few months or so I have been extremely emotional, which just means there has been an abundance of tears. Some of those tears have been seen by others but some have been hidden. I can look back and see so many times in my life when there were tears because my heart was hurting. I cried when my children started school. I especially cried when my daughter started school. Recalling how the teachers had to pry her off my leg and carry her into school might have had something to do with those tears. I cried when my children tried out for certain teams at school and didn't make it. I cried when my husband lost his job, due to a downsizing. I cried watching my children and now my grandchildren as they are awarded for an accomplishment or perform at school functions. I have to say one of the hardest times I cried was when we had to admit our youngest daughter into residential care due to her developmental issues and autism. I think you might call that kind of crying more like sobbing. I honestly "felt" my heart was breaking. Life is challenging. We have different experiences to face as our children are growing up. Seasons of life change and interrupt the rhythm of our lives. When things change - tears usually follow. I am close to retiring and that will be a different season of my life. I'm sure there will be lots of emotions at this change as well as an adjustment which probably will include tears. Most of the time I try not to cry in front of others. Maybe it's because I'm not sure they would understand, or if I could even explain why my feelings were hurt or I was sad. To be honest I am not a pretty crier either. At times the enemy can convince me to think, "Would anyone even care?" Sadly, there are times when others might not care, but God always does. When I am crying alone, God is there. Psalms 56:8 "You (God) keep track of all my sorrows, You (God) have collected all my tears in your bottle. You (God) have recorded each one in your book." How amazing is it to think God has collected my tears? He knows when I am crying and the reason behind each tear. I love that the scripture states He records them. To me this just means my tears are personal to Him, they are important to Him, and they matter to Him. He records them because He loves us. Every time I cry, God knows the reason. He doesn't just dismiss my tears and move on, He records them. One of the definitions of "record" is a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account kept in writing or some other permanent form. God keeps an account of each tear that you or I ever shed. We all have times when we have shed tears. We all probably have times when we have cried because we didn't know what to do or say. When there are no words, our tears become our unspoken prayers to God. He knows exactly what each tear represents. He keeps an account of the tears cried for sadness, joy, sorrow, grief, brokenness, empathy for others, or just unhappiness that we might not be able to understand. There are some difficult situations going on at our home. There have been lots of tears and some hurt feelings. I don't like to see people I love hurting. When you are dealing with teenagers you sometimes don't even know how or what to pray. The tears have been present quite often for more than just myself at our house. The good news is God knows every tear that has fallen, and He knows all the reasons behind them. I read a quote that said, "God is fluent in the language of tears and He is able to translate them on our behalf." Now that is amazing! I just want to encourage you. If you are walking through a difficult season - God knows. If you have shed tears over a situation in your life - God knows. If you do not have the words to voice a prayer - God sees and understands the tears you are crying. I don't know about you, but this gives me great comfort. Another thing that gives me comfort is knowing that one day the tears will be gone, there will be no need for any collection in a bottle, and there will be no more sorrow, pain, or crying. Revelation 21:4 "He (God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." I'm sure I will continue to be sensitive and a crier. I am also looking forward to the day when my bottle of tears will be empty. If you are a believer that day will come. Until then, just know that God is keeping track and collecting every tear for any reason that you cry. How amazing it is that He loves us that much! ___ Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. She is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org. --- PULLQUOTES --- Quote: The good news is God knows every tear that has fallen, and He knows all the reasons behind them. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20230105-130542-Jill Johnson thumbnail.jpg Caption: Jill Johnson