Throughout the Scriptures we are told to cry out to God and that no tear will be wasted. I’ve been pondering a recent juxtaposition of events and how God uses tears to soften our hearts.

I do enjoy my fiber crafts, but last year I didn’t have much opportunity to weave. As a result, I was a bit rusty in dressing the loom, reducing me to frustration and tears. It was ugly crying over nothing really. I think my frustration was not that I was struggling, but that I didn’t understand what I was doing to cause the issue. If I can learn from a mistake, then as annoying as it is, I can chalk it up to experience. But it was an issue I had faced several times and I’m still none the wiser. After what seemed like hours of trying and making no progress, I thought about how Mary would have woven the clothes for the Holy Family. I asked Momma Mary for guidance, but instead received persistence. It did take several days to completely finish the process, but I did make significant progress after my prayer. It may not be the best I’ve done, but at least I haven’t wasted the yarn. I won’t know how successful I’ve been until I’ve completed the project. 

After struggling with the loom for most of Saturday, I went to the vigil Mass. There were a number of children present and audible, but there was one who was particularly vocal. The child was old enough to talk, but still young enough to wail. I’m not sure what upset him, but he was crying with every fiber of his being. Thinking back to my crying bout earlier in the day, I could totally understand how he was feeling. He was spent and the only emotion he had left were his tears. Not that I was counting, nor did I look to see, but I believe his parent removed him about three times from Mass when he began wailing. I said a prayer for him. Then I said a prayer for his parents. I do commend his parents for bringing him to Mass and not leaving after his first cry. It would have been easy for them to say that they tried and didn’t want to disturb the congregation. But Mass is not about making things easy for us, it’s about putting God first and being nourished by Word and Sacrament. Is a crying child any different than our own thoughts that distract us at Mass?

I can’t say that I’m always this tolerant with distractions at Mass, but I feel like God was giving me an opportunity to learn to be more compassionate towards others. I was also able to appreciate how Father kept going no matter what part of the Mass it was, without stumbling over words or pausing during the disruptions. He may have spoken a bit louder in the microphone to make sure his words could be heard over the crying, but he displayed no evidence of annoyance or frustration of the circumstances. Sometimes I get distracted by my own thoughts when speaking, so to be able to concentrate on praying the Eucharistic prayers over a loudly crying child must be a gift of the Holy Spirit given to a priest. Glory to God for that blessing!

I’m sure there were members of the congregation who were displeased with the crying child and his family. But we are called to cry out to God in our distress, and perhaps that child is a reminder to all that we need to do exactly that. As adults we can cry out silently in our hearts and souls at Mass for our deepest needs and petitions. “My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your flask, recorded in your book?” (Psalm 56:9) Regardless of the cause of our tears, God shares in them, walking with us, and supporting us even if we can’t feel Him.  

Many times after a good cry there is a sense of release of the stress and anxiety that brought us to tears. It’s not quite peace, but rather an emptying of those negative emotions so that we can return to the issue at hand with a calmer demeanor. Tears may not solve the issues we have, but they are a gift from God to help us understand when we do need help and to lean on Him because He does care for us. Tears are never a waste and they are definitely not wasted when we lift them, and our challenges, up to God. He will see us through and as the Book of Revelation promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” (Rev 21:4)