Haven't posted for a while, because I've been working a bit. This week I'm giving a talk to a Women's Breakfast (I know. I'm not a morning person so there's my first challenge), so I've been busy working on what I'm going to say.
I have a problem. It seems to have appeared since I've had children. I'm not sure what to do with it or how to deal with it. It appears in public places, usually when I'm in front of people, and it causes me great consternation.
I have become a public blubberer.
The first time it happened was during a public prayer time in church. I'd asked for volunteers and while praying for the farmers affected by drought, I became overcome with emotion. It caused a great deal of embarrassed silence in the congregation.
It might have been a once-off, but since then I've had to fight to stave off tears at several inopportune moments. I've effectively become what I used to disdain: a teary woman.
Why is this such a problem? It comes up when I am talking about the great thing God did for us in sending Jesus. It appears when I am talking about God's love and our rejection of him. It might be ok in the privacy of my own home, but when I am trying to explain this to others my tears distract people from listening to the words I am saying.
I used to feel bemused about women who cried at weddings, or went teary at the drop of a hat. Now in the irony of it all I've developed this barely-restrained waterworks that spout forth at any time.
I'm seriously thinking that I have to try not to feel so much of what I am speaking. But insincerity comes through when you're talking, doesn't it? So how do I get back to feeling without blubbering?
4 comments:
Have a bottle of water with you and swig regularly. They'll get used to it, and won't notice that you're swigging when you're trying to recover from tears. Or just tell them upfront you've got something in your eye. Or admit to the problem... and then laugh about it?
I do it too. Can never get my point across without crying. It's embarrassing.
I can't help you at all. I have always been a blubberer. When I cry because other people are crying I console myself with the fact that I am "weeping with those who weep". Nice to be biblically based.
I think something is wrong with our culture that people aren't allowed to cry. It is good to be overcome with gladness about grace!!!! I've always had this when I speak, though usually it isn't tears, but a verge of tears thing - I find while some don't like it, others find it wonderful. If I don't get worried about it, I find I cope better with it - it tends then to not end up in tears, but just give added impact to what I say. I agree with Prue - but would put it more strongly and say that the Bible has no problems with tears at all - Hebrew culture much more emotionally expressive than ours.
This post made me think of something I read last year - had to search for it a bit, but I finally found it. I don't know if it will help, but you might find it interesting to read :)
The Beauty of Tears
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