Tears Water Our Growth

“Tears Water Our Growth” … a simple little phrase erroneously attributed to Shakespeare (the phrase never appears in any of his works). I am fascinated by the picture the phrase paints in my mind, but what does it mean? I’ve spent a good bit of time pondering that question.

I suppose we have all cried buckets of tears in our lifetime. As a kid, I remember falling off my bicycle and crying because I scraped my knees and my dignity was hurt. I had a choice, either walk away or get back on the bicycle. Tears released my pain, both physically and emotionally, and fueled my determination to get back on my bike to ride once again.

As a teenager, several of my friends were invited to join a small singing group, but I was not. I was crushed. As a singer and a songwriter joining that group sounded like a great opportunity. I confess that I cried myself to sleep for a few days. Again, my resolve grew from those tears and I threw myself into my own musical endeavors.

I’ve learned that life provides many opportunities for tears to water growth while navigating career and relationship challenges. The most hurtful things tend to make me stronger eventually. Determination and resolve often lie dormant, like a seed buried in the soil, until watered with my tears as I cry out to God.

Many of my tears are borne of fear, betrayal, and rejection, much like David in Psalm 58. He has been captured by his enemies and cries out to God for help and shouts his trust in God.

You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book.  The very day I call for help, the tide of battle turns. My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me! I am trusting God—oh, praise his promises! I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me! Yes, praise his promises.- Psalm 56:8-11

I need to remember that God also collects my tears … He knows me intimately, and every tear I shed has meaning to Him. He remembers each pain and sorrow as if He keeps each tear in a bottle. My determination and resolve come from God. When I cry out to Him, He is there. With great anticipation, I look forward to the day when He will wipe away my tears forever.

A New Heaven and a New Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. And I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.” – Revelation 21:1-4