I Already Cried
Turned back towards the news on TV when I heard a woman say, "I done cried already." It was the woman's response to the devastation around her. Well, I can't remember where she was from. But it was somewhere in the USA, where floods and tornados left many folks homeless, or too worn down and overwhelmed from standing knee-deep in calamity to cry anymore. Like she said, "I done cried already."
Who hasn't cried already about some one or something? And like my Mama told me more than once, "Time to get back up and get at what needs doing." Sounds simple enough, but, as life's taught me, not so easy.
We're living in a strange time in our country. Our current president creates chaos like a calling. And those who initiate, succumb to bullying or get coopted, add to the confusion and angst of this time. Trust me, I done cried already.
But tears go just so far. What helps in times like these? Well, I believe we have two superpowers. One is prayer and the other is love. Both sound simple. Neither are easy. You and I know that's the Gospel truth. And no place should be better at both praying and loving than The Church. And those of us who sit in those pews are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to put feet and hands to those prayers and deliver God's love to friend or foe who stand knee-deep in confusion or chaos of some kind.
So what am I doing on this blustery, nor-easter day in May? Sitting and talking with you, after talking with Jesus. I'll also get around to singing and hunting things for which to be thankful. Singing and gratitude are superpowers, too.
Take this morning, for instance. I woke up singing, "Nearer my God to Thee." Well, that startled me, for sure. I said, "God are you trying to tell me something?" I don't feel all's as hopeless as those felt, who supposedly played that tune as the Titanic sank. But then, sometimes I'm slow to catch-on. Still, I stopped singing that song.
Then, I looked to see if my sister-in-love sent me something funny. She did. So in-between crying, praying, doing what needs doing, singing and thanking, try laughing. Humor's a superpower, too. Here are a couple Chris sent me:
"I swear if my memory was any worse, I could plan my own surprise party." Or this one, "I don't fear aging. I fear stairs, small fonts and low chairs." See, laughter is a superpower. But, if you're like my kids, rolling your eyes doesn't count as exercise. Nor does raising your eyebrows.
8 Comments
Just when I need a good dose of common Christian sense, I open my mailbox to find your Spirit prescribed dose! Thanks, Jan!
Aww, that's a big dose of encouragement, dear Tara. Thank you so much. Laughter is biblical and good for what ails us. Remember: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength." Proverbs 17:22, NLT Or as it reads in the Message translation," A cheerful disposition is good for your health, gloom and doom leave you bone-tired." And you know the superpower of prayer, love and gratitude. Keep on.
Oh, thank you dear Jan! too many mornings I start with something far more angst inducing than a hymn. Thank you for the inspiration to let more of the "goodness of God" fill my heart...
Well, I know you know how to sing and pray, dear Linda. So keep at it. I often wake up with some song floating around, trying to be an alarm clock to jumpstart my day. But, thankfully, most don't remind me that I'm on the shorter end of my lifespan, like Nearer My God to Thee.. Lord, have mercy.
Jan, thank you for this. I think I'm going to add "I done cried already" to my vocabulary. I forwarded your post to a beloved sister-in-law when I read it yesterday and she immediately replied, "I need to read this every morning!"
Thanks for helping us laugh, cry, and process chaos together.
I think the woman was from Kentucky, or maybe Indiana. For sure there's not a state that doesn't have folks crying about something. As for helpino you "laugh, cry and process chaos," it helps me, too, dear Maggie.. But then, you're a writer, so you know that's the truth.
My mom would say something similar to your mom's "Time to get back up and get at what needs doing!" Self pity was never tolerated growing up, and I'm so thankful! It's straight from the devil! Whereas the super powers you mentioned: prayer, love, singing, gratitude and laughter are all from the Lord!! Whew - it's hard to not get depressed, but it's our choice to use the super powers God gives us - right?!
Yes, dear Wendy. I saw you use your super powers in field hockey and in leadership roles at Gordon, when you were a student. And I've also observed you using your God-given super powers over the years. We've all "done cried already" but tears will come again for all of us. And God will be trustworthy through it all and sometimes through us to others. But you and Steve already know and do just that for others.