"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than 10,000 tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love." ~ Washington Irving
Life brings heartache. Grief is unavoidable. And like the cool rain that cleans the air and brings nourishment to flowers, tears are sacred messengers of love.
Sir Walter Scott said, "Tears are the softening showers which cause the seed of Heaven to spring up in the human heart."
Don't hold back... As the heroic Greek warrior Odysseus showed us repeatedly in Homer's epic Iliad: It's okay to cry.
"Tears are the safety valves of the heart when too much pressure is laid on," explained nineteenth century British writer Albert Smith.
Celebrate tears! A way to show love and compassion, crying heals. Crying gets you in touch with your emotions. Tears release toxins, reduce tensions, and wash away pain. It feels better after a good cry.
"For frequent tears have run The colors from my life," revealed poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Loss is a part of life. To have joy, you must also experience sadness. Much of the world's greatest literature has been written with tears. "To weep is to make less the depth of grief," wrote William Shakespeare.
"Tears," said English poet Alfred Austin, "are the summer showers to the soul."
Open your heart and let the well springs flow!