LIFE (Living In Freedom EVERYDAY)
Part 4—Continuation
This month we will linger a while in the fourth stage of our emotional healing journey. We are discovering that while this stage of healing is a place of quietness and stillness, it is also a place of the ‘Niagara Falls of Tears.’ These are healing tears that erupt and flow out of us like the Niagara Falls. We have no control of these tears and they erupt during the most unexpected times. These tears are extremely important for numerous reasons. Here are just a few of those reasons.
First, these tears are important because as our Creator is molding us back together piece by piece, the healing tears are mingled into the fibers of our being/our person. This molding process is so much easier when it is mingled with liquid…and what better liquid than the liquid of healing tears!
Next, these tears create within us an intrinsic sensitivity to the hurt and pain others carry deep inside. What is the importance of this sensitivity? It is important because now that we have become victors and are no longer victims of life’s hurt, pain, trauma, and abuse, God can use us to help others. The world’s view of tears is a sign of weakness in those who shed them.
Finally, but only finally in this article due to limited space, tears touch the very soul and spirit of a person. A person sees that we are concerned for their well-being and we have much compassion for them when they see our tears. Our tears are no longer tears of hurt, sorrow, pain, grief, and torment. We now have tears of joy, love, compassion, empathy, thankfulness, gratefulness, and forgiveness.
When God creates us and makes us over anew, He changes even our tears! So we linger in this fourth stage to be saturated with these new tears which have an intrinsic value to them. Let these tears soak us through and through.
Vickie Hodges is a UPCI licensed minister with 35 years experience in Early Childhood Education and Brain Development Research. She is the author of LIFE (Living In Freedom EVERYDAY) Recovery Series. Vickie is a trainer, a speaker at
seminars, retreats, conferences and college campuses. She can be reached at
281-433-4976 (text) or email VickieHodgesSharingLIFE@gmail.com.
Ministry Leadership—Pastor Mark Hughes and Dr. James Hughes of Greater Life Church in Webster, Texas.