I’ve no problem with shedding tears. What makes a man weak is an inability to rise above a situation; to stand tall and be counted; to act when there is a need. Anger prevents that as does sorrow as does joy as does a whole range of other emotions. Sort of like be angry but do not sin. When you’re not in control of your emotions that’s when you’ve lost. I’ve never, ever seen my Dad properly angry. I can’t even remember the last time I was properly angry. Not sure if teenage tantrums count.
Anyway, tonight was a night full of hurt and pain for me as well as the other members of my small community of believers. A family who have over 29 years of relationship with my fellowship, and with me, talked about why they were leaving. There was a lot of hurt and emotion and a lot of tears. We love them. They love us. We don’t really agree with their decision. Most feel they’re making a mistake. I’m not sure. I generally don’t go for the whole predicting the future thing. I just pray and hope that they are blessed.
The father of that family lived in a basement fed on bread and water for three weeks because he refused to recant his faith. This was his own family doing this to him. This is a man with a heart for the lost. And a heart for the elderly and a heart for so many people. We all have flaws and he would be the first to admit that. When I was a teenager he committed to praying for me on a regular basis. I know that 99 days out of every 100 he’s prayed for me. And I know he will continue to do so. And I know that not seeing him at our meetings isn’t going to sit well with me. Living in community and living with human beings in general can really cause you to run the full gamut of emotions.
Sometimes loving someone hurts. A lot.
Decisively Uncertain 