A Solitary Tear

"How are you?"

Asked millions of times a day around the world.

Usually more a greeting than a question.

"How are you?"

I asked with sincere intent on Sunday morning.

Nine kids in a pew and on time to church

makes it hard to focus on anything else, but

there are some things that make you

stop,

forget yourself,

love another.

"How are you?"

Such a dreadfully incompetent question

for one who has just lost her mother.

A beautiful 17-year-old girl,

burdens now far beyond the petty but oh-so-real poignancies of teenage life,

looking after three younger siblings.

Seated directly in front of us.

"How are you?"

"We're doing OK,"

said with a real, if subdued smile.

My heart went out, trying to comprehend their incomprehensible loss.

I focused on them for a few moments, until

"Dad, she won't let me sit where I want to"'s

pulled me back to my world.

My oh-so-challenging

and yet

not,

world.

And my mind forgot their sadness.

Until.

She turned to look at her little sister.

A solitary tear sat halfway down her cheek.

And my heart broke.

Ounce for ounce, has there been a more emotion-filled tear?

Which of the multitude of fears and frustrations

had pushed that one tear

down?

So composed.  So determined.  So strong.

Just one tear.

The opening hymn began

'Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden

Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.

He'll safely guide you unto that haven

Where all who trust him may rest.'

So grateful.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It is true.

His love is there.

His love is real.

Nothing can soothe the loss of a mother, a child, a spouse.

Except His love.

I am grateful that this mother, now gone, cared so much about her daughter.

Cared enough to spend a lifetime preparing her for this time.

Helping her come to know Jesus.

To love Jesus.

And to be able to reach out

and feel his loving arms

surround her in this time of

unsurpassed pain.

I pray.

That somewhere in the midst of those emotions,

in spite of pain,

overcoming the agony,

is the light of

hope

in that solitary tear.

-Jeremy