tears

As this 2021 draws to a close, we think back over the past 20 odd months of what’s happened in our world. So many new memories to share as we age. I have been collecting hugs, snuggles and love in my heart for years. Our mother collected spoons, the boys hockey cards and everyone has plenty of photos collected over the years. Wealthy people have art collections and some items just collect dust. And then others collected tears in a jar.

As far away as 400 BC, women would keep the tears they shed for the men who went off to war. Some of the men never returned, but if they did, the wife would present the bottle as a token of love. There were other jars used for oil, perfume, cream or liquids that were kept in these ceramic containters, but the tear jar or lachrymatory, as it was called, was an expression of respect and sorrow for the dead.

There is a legend in Greece of the Tear Jar. Water was precious and giving up any water was considered a sacrifice. Tears that were cried for the dead was holy water and would be used to sprinkle on the sick to cool a fever or on a doorway to keep out evil. Tears were kept in unpainted bottles. Then when the grief was experienced because of a death, the grieving person would decorate the bottle depicting various aspects of that person’s life.

In other cultures, as much as 3,000 years ago, mourners would collect the tears in the bottle and then bury them with their loved ones as expressions of honor and devotion. I can’t even imagine how many tears God has shed for us as humanity. He longs for us to return to him. We cry out to Him. Sheila Walsh said a few years ago that, ‘Tears are prayers that travel to God.”

Even King David spoke of sorrow and tears in Psalm 56:8 when he said, “You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle.” God does not forget about our sorrows. He is in the midst of these troubled times. And like the songwriter’s line from many years ago, “Our blessings come in teardrops.” When we shed many tears for our loved ones, our famlies and friends, our neighbors and communities, our country and our world, remember that God is collecting them in His bottle. He is there to comfort us and will save us from hurt, pain, loss and suffering. Not more tears. Praise His Holy name!

What a promise for a New Year! 2022