Lay Down Your Burdens
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
In what ways do we experience the true depth of our soul through our tears — the tears of deep sadness and the tears of overwhelming joy?
Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow.
- Rita Schiano
Psalm 147:3-5
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
His understanding has no limit.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
Food for Thought
Why do we weep? If you're like me, you weep for all sorts of reasons.
We weep when we are homesick. We weep when we are tired. We weep because of unmet expectations — when we are sad, frustrated, or disappointed. We weep when we are deeply broken or simply brokenhearted. We weep when we are hurt or in pain.
And yet, we also weep when we are overjoyed. We weep when we score the game-winning goal. We weep when our children walk for the first time. We weep when we come home after an extended time of being away. We weep when we are proud, or feel encouraged, or know how deeply blessed we are.
In John 11, the people noticed Jesus weeping and commented that Jesus wept because he loved Lazarus. I would probably say the same thing. Even in hindsight, knowing the end of the story, I would agree that Jesus is filled with grief for Lazarus.
However, I think there is more to Jesus weeping than what meets the eye. I think Jesus weeps for himself and for his friend. I think Jesus weeps for us and our world. I think Jesus weeps because he is hurt — and he weeps with gratitude for this moment.
I think he is hurt because the people have seen all the miracles he has done and he is frustrated that they don't even understand who he is or what he is able to do. I think he is grateful for the opportunity to show his love for his friend. And perhaps he is a bit overwhelmed at what lies ahead of him in his own ministry and death.
Jesus is overcome with emotions, and so he weeps.
This may be the place where we relate most to Jesus. When it comes down to it, Jesus weeps for the same reasons we do. He has, indeed, walked it out; he fully invested mind, body, and soul. His heart knows what it's like to have no words, just tears. He knows what it's like to have unmet expectations. He knows what it's like to be overcome with sorrow and overwhelmed with joy in the midst of a blessing.
It can be so hard to let ourselves cry — to be vulnerable to the point of tears.
We struggle to make peace with our deepest vulnerabilities; to know that there are some ways that our lives are simply limited. How do we accept when we cannot save those we love most from illness, from addiction, from deep depression, from death? How do we stifle our frustration when people misunderstand our intentions, or when people we care about are treated unfairly, or when we watch the news, or when we make our most regrettable mistakes? How can we keep from weeping when our first child is born, or our years of loyal work pay off, or we retell the stories of childhood?
We try hard to resist allowing our emotions to flow out of us in tears, and yet here — Jesus weeps. Jesus embraces all that is happening around and within him, and he weeps. Unashamed. Unafraid. Unapologetic. He lays it all down.
So, what does that tell us? It tells us that we, too, can lay it all down. It tells us that we do not carry our burdens, our hurts, our deepest concerns or sorrows, our greatest joys and accomplishments — any of it — alone. But this one who wept for his friend doesn't judge our tears as the world might. And this one who wept for his disciples, doesn't lead from the front but rather journeys with them at the back. And when we simply can’t carry the weight of our tears anymore, we are met in love by this one who wept unashamedly.
Take a moment to journal about what it means to you that Jesus wept, that he allowed himself to outwardly express the emotions he felt. What is your interpretation of his tears? Do they affect the way you view Jesus’ humanity?
Crying can be a powerful, cleansing emotional release. But for some of us, it can be difficult to access that level of vulnerability. Next time you feel overcome with emotion, challenge yourself not to stop yourself short. Note how it feels to let your tears flow — is it scary, do you feel uncomfortable, is it freeing?
Our Welcoming Growth Journaling Page offers seven daily prompts to guide you as you look for ways to cultivate growth within yourself and the world around you this week! Feel free to print the journaling page, forward it to a friend, use it as inspiration for your own journaling practice (or group conversations), or maybe just a food for thought in your quiet time.
We hope you enjoy our Welcoming Growth Journaling Page!
Blessing
Father, thank you for the array of emotions with which you have gifted us, for tears that cleanse our souls, and for giving us ways to show your great love for us.
Jesus, thank you for weeping. Thank you for leading by serving.
Help us to be more like you.
In your name I pray. Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Share with a friend the last time you let yourself have a good cry.
Discuss together the idea of God not “judging your tears”. What does that mean to you and how does it make you feel?
How can we provide a safe space for others to openly express their emotions?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Talk with your child about tears — all of the emotions they can represent and the situations that may cause them to flow.
What feelings or situations make them cry?
Assure your child that crying is a perfectly normal, healthy expression of emotion.
Meet Our Welcoming Voice!
Kathryn Balogun a servant of Jesus who is a wife, mother, and college soccer coach. She also started @21st.centurywomen to meet a need she saw in young women to encourage, educate, and empower them to reach their full potential. Kathryn grew up in Colorado, but has lived in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Texas.
To hear more from Kathryn throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
Here are Five Things to Remember When Setting Your Own Welcome Table!
If you have a story that you would like to be included as a Reader's Write feature, we'd love to hear from you! Message us on our contact page or email us at thewelcometableco@gmail.com.