Let’s keep the ‘bawl’ rolling

I’m a crier. There, I’ve said it.

It’s the reason I won’t watch sad movies. Christian movies in particular. They’re the worst. My wife tries to make that our “us” time every chance she gets.

Her: “Oh there’s a new one out where the heroine of the story, a stewardess, accidentally gets flushed out of the toilet of the plane 10,000 feet up, but she lands on a giant snow back that’s soft and breaks her fall, but it’s out in the middle of a frozen tundra where wild polar bears roam and there’s a man who looks like Brad Pitt but he’s not interested in starting a family and…”

Me: “Oh … uh … I need to go into the bathroom and put hot wax in my nostrils and yank it out. But thanks for asking.” Because I know at some point near the end God is going to show up. Like He always does. He’s going to show up, show out and make everything good. It’s going to be smiles and joy all around, but not for me. I’ll be over there in my chair, Mr. Hoover Dam crumbling to pieces.

It’s not just that I’m a crier. It’s that I’m an “ugly” crier. Believe me. When this face, already a challenge to make presentable, gets all contorted out of shape. It’s a scene. I used to hate times in the pulpit when the Spirit would hit me and … “oh no … Here it comes …” I would look away. Try to contain it. Try to keep it in. Hold it back. No luck.

Tears would well up and begin to trickle. My face would get all misshapen like the Elephant Man. The congregation would gasp. Like I said. Ugly. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Medical/health experts say crying has a number of proven benefits. It can have a self-soothing effect that helps us criers regulate our emotions (although it doesn’t look that way at the time) and return to a more neutral emotional state quicker than non-criers. It helps us regulate our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

It can cause our body to produce hormones that in turn make us feel better. We release oxycontin and endorphins after we cry, which can help reduce stress and relieve pain. Crying is also a way our body rids itself of chemicals. If we don’t cry? Opposite effect: anxiety, depression, upset stomach and heart-associated issues.

“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” – Romans 12:15. I’ve found that is absolutely the best formula to help anyone who has suffered loss and/or are grieving over anything. Just genuinely cry with them.”Jesus wept.” – John 11:35. See. Even He was a crier.

When was the last time you cried? I highly recommend it – ugly or not. Especially now that you know the benefits. If you need a good place to start, my wife has this movie she needs someone to watch with her. It’s about a stewardess who accidentally got flushed out of the toilet of a plane …