ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Mountainous clouds entwine in a sky of black,
Filling with tears from the Lord of all.
He sees and He knows our tribulation.
The depth of our sorrow is in His hands.
There is nothing we can do to take away our sadness.
We cannot change the course of our lives,
But He has turned His tears to cleansing waters
Through the death of His beloved Son.
Washed – forgiven for sin’s deadly pain,
We can dance in His refreshing rain.

The painting today was commissioned several years ago by a woman who wanted to donate a memory of her husband to the church. It reminds me of a place of comfort and peace – a habitat in which to get away from the ugliness of the world. I believe that God must cry over the condition of our planet, our country, our cities, our homes and even our churches. Since we have been created in His image, tears are part of who we are. We cry when we’re happy, sad, angry, outraged. We cry when we’re in pain. We cry when we realize that our lives are in a state of change which we have no control over. Jesus wept. Even though He could end the pain He felt, He suffered through it. He wept.

Tears can be our exit strategy when we simply cannot cope any longer. They release the suffering of a broken heart. They can comfort one who mourns. They can show feelings of pride for a job well done. Tears can come when miracles occur – when a newborn opens his eyes or a man sees his future wife walking down the aisle. The painting also shows God’s compassion through the dominant cross that appears in the sky. That symbol is more than comforting to those who weep. It gives us hope for a future in a perfect world, where there will be no more tears.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY. FILL OUR HEARTS WITH HOPE FOR A FUTURE WITH YOU IN HEAVEN. YOU GAVE YOUR SON TO TAKE AWAY OUR SIN. LEAD US OUT OF THE TRIBULATION THAT COVERS THIS EARTH AND HELP US TO CRY TEARS OF JOY!