So many of us go through life taking on responsibilities in which we are looked upon as super moms, or super dads, or super human beings. Here’s a lovely incident by a widower for such as you:
‘Alone, at the dining room table, I sat in tears: I was a recently widowed man who was determined to give my kids as normal and stable a home life as possible. I put on a happy face for them. I kept their activities as close to how they had always been as I could. This nightly ritual was just as it had always been with the exception that their mother was now gone. I had done it again: another night successfully concluded.
Sitting at the dining room table, I slumped in my chair, aware that this was the first time since I came home from work that I’d been able to just sit down. I had cooked and served and encouraged two little ones to eat. I had done the dishes while responding to their many requests for attention. The bath, the stories, the backrubs, the singing and now, at long last, a brief moment for myself. The silence was a relief, for the moment.
Then it all crowded in on me: the fatigue, the weight of the responsibility, the worry about bills I wasn’t sure I could pay that month. The endless details of running a house. Only a short time before, I’d been married and had a partner to share these chores, these bills. These worries!
And loneliness! I felt as I thought I was at the bottom of a great sea of loneliness. It all came together and I was at once lost, overwhelmed. Unexpected, convulsive sobs overtook me.
I sat there, silently sobbing.
Just then, a pair of little arms went around my middle and a little face peered up at me. I looked down into my five-year-old son’s sympathetic face.
I was embarrassed to be seen crying by my son. “I’m sorry, son, I didn’t know you were still awake.” I don’t know why it is, but so many people apologize when they cry and I was no exception. “I didn’t mean to cry. I’m sorry. I’m just a little sad tonight.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. It’s okay to cry, you’re just a person!”
I can’t express how happy he made me, this little boy, who in the wisdom of innocence, gave me permission to cry. He seemed to be saying that I didn’t have to always be strong, that it was occasionally possible to allow myself to feel weak and let out my feelings. Thank you, my son!’
There are many of you, I’m sure, who’s shoulders tremble with concealed anxiety; businesses that have fallen, unsure jobs, sickness or the fear of the virus! Maybe, in your bravery you need to hear the same words,
“Cry! You’re just a person!”
But, hush! Suddenly you realize it’s not the voice of an ordinary child, but One who was born in a manger just for you, who understands exactly what you must be feeling, and is willing to take you through it all!
Let Him..!
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Read…
DARE by Robert Clements.
It will change your life.
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
It’s okay to cry. Even Jesus wept.
It’s a human reaction. To err is human, to forgive is divine!
It’s human to cry. U hv put it so nicely till the last it’s not known what u r trying to convey .
“Suffer And Be Strong” Just To Face Our Life’s Circumstances Powerful…..!!!!!!
Wonderful,
Truly Christ will take us through it all.
I was a strong person all this time because I came from ups and downs face many real life challenges over came one by one as I really don’t want my family to know what is going on my life hear in Dubai all by myself.
Yes I go to washroom open the shower I cry very much so no one can hear my cry
I really know the what’s meening of CRY.its a wash away the real pain
For me nothing to add here, I just let my tears roll down as I go through the story, putting on his shoe for a moment. Thank you Bob!
Crying doesn’t mean a person is not strong. Crying brings great relief n one is prepared to make a fresh start. If you are willing to show your weakness, your friends n dear ones will try to shield you. No use pretending you don’t want to cry.
Thanks Bob. Sure it does make you lighter and stronger to fight ahead !
Stress often precedes a good cry . Tears contain stress and other hormones and hence crying is a natural safety valve to help us relax by releasing these hormones.
Pent up emotions lead to chronic elevated levels of these hormones causing physical and mental ailments.
Crying and sobbing help in the healing process by calming us down.
We all need to cry !
Crying makes the heart feel lighter..as though your talking to someone through your sobs..even if there is no one around..God hears and feels what a good cry is for..and we do feel better!He is there..seen it all..felt it all!
Crying is definitely a way to give a vent to our pent up feelings. I feel that many of us take up too much burden on ourselves. Like in this story the father is trying to hide the reality from his children. That is incorrect. Instead the family would be much better off if he shares his responsibilities with his children. The children that way will become much better individuals.
I personally feel almost like the father in the story and I am feeling just like him only my children are all grown-up and taking responsibility for my welfare which is very shameful and down grading to me as I have always wanted them to get things from me and opposite it is very sad for me MAY GOD BLESS THEM WITH ALL THE JOVS OF LIFE.