Today’s Reflection
Taking time to find someone we trust to be our “wailing wall” and sharing the stories that our tears represent brings immense healing benefits into our lives and relationships. Something positive and life-giving is released when our tears flow and find their voice. This could be why the church, long before the advent of modern psychology, gave special attention to “the gift of tears.” Besides their therapeutic value, which is well documented, tears help us realize when we have reached the point when we are most wounded, which is precisely the moment that restorative grace and new beginnings often enter our lives. Our tears make us receptive to angelic presences and surprising resurrection encounters.
—Trevor Hudson, Hope Beyond Your Tears: Experiencing Christ’s Healing Love, with a foreword by Dallas Willard (Upper Room Books, 2012)
Today’s Question
How might your tears enable you to receive grace and new beginnings? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your record?
—Psalm 56:8 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
God of Compassion, we offer you our tears—tears of release, tears of grief, tears of joy. Receive them in love, and reveal to us the healing they can bring. Amen. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Throughout the season of Lent, join us for a midweek moment of prayer and worship live from The Upper Room Chapel. You can find us on Facebook or YouTube each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. (CST).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
3 Comments
Although it would be a blessing to have a human “wailing wall”, I think that is a tough find. I’m thankful God knows me best Just amazed at the wonderful events of yesterday when three problems were fixed, two very unexpectedly., and in a short time. The plumber jobs are resolved. Next a trip to the Poconos! Thank You, Lord. No place on earth is perfect, you try to find the place that works the best. At this time that seems to be there.
Hymn focused Lenten study coming up. Need to be ready. Blessings to all the NEM family.
It would be nice to have a person that would hear my cries even though I know God hears me. My tears refresh and cleanse me opening me to new beginnnings and grace.
I left a comment yesterday another way but no one else did so I will repeat. On Sunday, Megan and I went to the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show which s the largest in the country. It is ten acres of exhibits and miles of walking which aggravated my knee and foot injuries but we had a fabulous time. I also made arrangements to have the windows replaced. Now I have to try to keep h from interacting with the salesman. I have a great repoire buuilt with the salesman and h is very nasty to people. Please pray all goes well.
Prayers for Ally and David and Jeremy and Scout. May all their health improve and may Ally receive disability benefits soon. Prayers for Jill and Roger, may Roger’s diabetes be responding to the insulin. Prayers of gratitude with Robert that so much went well yesterday. Robert, in response to your inquiry my email is julie020664@gmail.com. Prayers for all who visit here.
My treasured friend who invited me to her church was my wailing wall during and immediately following mom’s struggle. She brings such a presence of peace and quietness – and it is so very safe to weep in her presence. No words are necessary from her, just presence. She is so kind and soft spoken. We have been on the same tennis team for close to 2 decades, but only in 2017 as I was about to receive my diagnosis, did we truly connect. Now, it is a bonus, we are new tennis partners, after the shake-up of my former partner having her rating increased. So, in the Fall and Spring – I believe we will be a new pairing.
The vet wants to keep Roger at his current insulin level for a month and will see him the day after Easter. She wants to examine him and check his weight. I am working on finding a food high in protein and low in carbs – a canned food – to work more moisture into his diet. She gave me the name of a couple – I will be shopping for them today after school. I still worry about his tummy, hope this can straighten things out.
My sister and her husband headed back to Florida for a few weeks this morning. Dad will be able to settle in during that time. Don has done a nice job of getting dad connected and functioning on wifi and the cable tv options.
School remains steady and busy. The mask mandate was lifted yesterday. I will remain masked for quite some time. I was surprised how many students remain with a mask on. It is nice not to have that fight in the hall…”pull your mask up”.
Julie – will be praying for the interaction when the window salesperson comes. Also, that your knee and foot would get to feeling better.
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