And smile, smile, smile.

I wrote a post a while back decrying the song, ‘pack up your troubles in an old kit bag’ because I think that advice is terrible! Also, the clasp on my ‘ole kit bag’ has a horrible way of springing open when I am trying to keep it shut! This morning after being told to straighten my back, don’t bend my knee and put my shoulders back all at the same time, I am afraid my troubles burst out! There were no smiles, that’s for sure.

This afternoon however I am bolstering myself up with some of the things that make me happy. I’ve had a cup of tea, pulled a blanket over my knees and our dog is peacefully sleeping close by. Last Saturday I got on the trike and had one of the best spring circuits of the park I’ve ever had. People stepped aside, someone told me I was ‘going well’ and I didn’t struggle at all. So in public, when health is good and you feel good, it rubs off on everyone around you. Of course, when the opposite happens, don’t feel like you have failed, because tears can soften hearts too

It says in Psalm 56 “You have put my tears in your bottle” (Psalm 56:8, ESV). Tears are often inevitable and never wasted. Even God sees them as precious. So on the days when you just want to cry, don’t push them down and hide away. Certainly don’t pack them up lest someone sees you. A stiff upper lip helps no-one. I was so touched when someone told me their daughters were crying all night because their cat hadn’t come home. Or when another person shared about her struggles with her family. I know for a fact, that those things were shared because they saw a vulnerability in me that made them feel safe.

I would love to smile all the time and make people around me smile too. But maybe, although it is humbling and slightly mortifying, crying has its place as well.