I’ve decided that tears are sometimes the best expression of the heart.
Sometimes words don’t do the heart justice. But emotion always does the heart justice.
When a child is born and you hold them for the first time, sometimes no words will match what the tears coming down a face can show. When your child gets married and the tears glisten in the corners of your eyes? Those tears speak volumes of the years of love your heart has devoted to the one who is walking down the aisle.
When your child is hurting and you are holding them in your arms trying to console them, they don’t always see the tears that slowly seep from your own eyes as you resonate in pain with them.
When a dearly loved grandparent passes away and you reach across their casket to give them one last lingering hug…. only tears can tell the story of the love you shared with that now-deceased dear one.
Sometimes when I stand in church and sing, I wonder at the meaning of the words that my voice sings out. I wonder at the realness of my faith. And then a certain stanza of a song causes my voice to choke, and I find my eyes wet with deep love for my Heavenly Father. In that moment, I realize that my heart knows how to express what I’m feeling better than my mind or my voice.
Yes, sometimes love is spoken mainly in tears. Our tears can be happy, sad, fearful or full of gratitude. They are the outward voice for the inner passions of our heart and soul.
Every time I feel my tears – especially when they take me by surprise, I am grateful for their authenticity. Tears don’t and can’t ever lie. They are more real and honest than most things in life and we don’t do them justice when we try to hide them.
We can also take away a blessing from those we love by hiding our tears. Imagine how a spouse would feel, if they could see tears streaming down our face over our thankfulness for their safe return after being away for a long time; or tears shed in relief after finding out they are safe after a very critical surgery?
Imagine how someone feels to see and experience your tears when you come to him or her and tell them how sorry you are for hurting them? Those tears mean more and express your heart deeper than any of your words ever could.
Love is IN our tears. It is in every single drop that falls.
It’s those very tears that show what something (or someone) really means to us.
Let them show. Let them flow. For when the words don’t come and tears do….sometimes that is the best way to deliver the message to someone else we deeply care about.
By Dionna Sanchez – Beauty In the Storm
Leave a Comment
Ashley says
Thank you Dionna. Love is in the tears.
Dionna says
You’re very welcome, Ashley. 🙂
Lesley says
For a long time I spent life hiding my tears well, trying not appear strong for those who knew me. Yet over the years I’ve learned the same lesson, that the moments that people truly know your heart and love about a matter is when you shed tears of grief, joy, pain, or relief. What a beautiful image that our love is in our tears!
Dionna says
You are so right, Lesley. Tears can be such a beautiful image! I am so glad that you are not hiding your tears any longer.
Tracy says
I’ve always hated my tears. They made me feel weak and helpless. Your words have opened my eyes to see tears differently. Thank you for that!
Dionna says
Tracy – I am so sorry that you have always hated your tears or that they made you feel weak and helpless. I am so glad that you see a different perspective on it all and I hope and pray that the next time your tears are tempted to fall…that you let them. And that they cleanse you and strengthen you in the process.
Heidi says
I struggled for a very long time with not being able to cry, never tearing up, not even when I knew I needed that release. They just wouldn’t come. I finally prayed for a softened heart, and God granted me some of the vulnerability I have lacked…which hurts in ways I’d never had to hurt before. It may be the best blessing He’s ever granted me. Like you, I wonder if I really feel what I think I feel (brain/heart disconnect)…and then the tears come, and I can be certain.
Dionna says
Those are beautiful words, Heidi. I am so glad that God is answering your prayer. Yet, it can hurt, but it also can be freeing and cleansing. I pray these two things will accompany your tears. Hugs, my friend.
Lynn says
It is so hard for me to cry. It wasn’t allowed growing up. If I do I am probably feeling incredibly frustrated/powerless. But sometimes when I truly “get” that someone can, and does, love me just as I am, the little girl in me gets washed away in tears.
Dionna says
Oh, Lynn.
I think we all feel frustrated and powerless sometimes in our tears. And that’s okay. I think it’s in those moments that God’s love comes down to us as He reaches for our tears to wipe them away for us.
He sees that little girl in you and He loves you through your tears. Just. As. You. Are.
Lis says
Who would have thought to write out a post on something like tears? So beautiful!! Everything you wrote is so true.
Dionna says
Haha. I guess, I would! 🙂 Thank you, Lis.
Beth Williams says
Beautifully written! Tears come almost weekly at church when we do communion. Just thinking about what God did & for little old me–a nobody, no one important, yet for me He bled & died!
Certain songs & shows will get my tears to flowing also!
Caught my hubby crying our first Christmas together (dating). We were watching Charlie Brown Christmas & the tears just flowed. He spent the previous Christmas all alone–divorced! It was touching!
Dionna says
Love it when men aren’t too proud to cry!
Mary Carver says
My love is often spoken in tears! I love this post!!
Dionna says
Thank you, Mary.
Dawn says
Dionna, your words are beautiful as always. Just like you. Beautiful reflection of grace…in our tears. Thank you, you said it well.
Dionna says
Ohh, thank you so much, Dawn.
Damaris says
I have just come across this beautiful post. For a long time I couldn’t cry the hurt and pain was so intense I was numb. Now I welcome them! I know I’m not just going “through the motions” like the song says. I just pray God keep my heart soft break my heart for the things that break yours. Thank you for such a sweet reminder.
Dionna says
That is a great prayer request – “to break my heart for what breaks His.” I’m so glad that God has softened your heart.
Jody McComas says
Thanks for this. I’ve been processing similar things and loved this post. I am going to share a link to it on my blog tomorrow. I hope that’s okay. Thanks so much!
Jodymccomas.com
Dionna says
Absolutely okay. I’d be honored.
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Ashley says
Beautifully written!! There are few times when I’ve seen my husband cry out of the corner if my eye and it always touches me so deeply! I’ve only seen him cry out of sympathy for another parent’s child who was suffering and last week when we watched Nebraska’s football team allow that boy with cancer to run a touchdown during a game. You can tell a lot about a person by what breaks their heart and makes them cry!
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