3. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He cried tears in prayer and he was healed.

26 August 2020

Detail from Descent from the Cross, c. 1435 by Rogier van der Weyden, the tears of Mary of Clopas

Rogier van der Weyden • Public domain

Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He cried tears in prayer and he was healed.

“Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)

It is considered a letdown when men cry.

Yet, you can read this: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/minority-report/201601/real-men-cry%3famp

I was out of work in gaps for about half of a period of five years. And I felt I brought it up to myself, that I had guilt of putting college education of my children in jeopardy, and their future itself at that.

It all started in 2000. About three years earlier at age 37, working with a multi-national company, I was given early retirement package and the house title and the car registration were in my name, and a good amount of money left. I was very confident. I left the company having gotten a team Chairman's Award for handling a major marine oil spill incident.

Then I joined an Australian company startup operations here in the Philippines. Then again a separation package after two years; the company was bought out.

I might sound fault-finding, there was political color in both cases that I was separated from employment. But that was irrelevant, it was the following years that mattered; the dire situation seemed there was no ending, I thought I would not survive.

Prayer is what I learned back in elementary in a Catholic school. Now, in my case, nothing in my abilities and skills seem to work in that five years of famine. Prayer was the last resort!

The cars were sold, the house was mortgaged with the amortization overdue, and my wife had to borrow money to pay utility bills. You cannot forgive a man who brought this misfortune to his family.

I had no work and all the time to rest, but I was restless and sleepless at times. I would wake up in wee hours, lost for words in prayers. I sank into depression manifested in severe stomach spasms, and was near being crazy.

There was this Christian couple who helped me and came over to our house along with the cell group for prayer offering and when it was my turn to pray, it was mumbled words, tears, groan and runny nose. Luha, ungol, sipon (o uhog ika nga sa Batangas).

The couple then told me it's alright to cry, for men to cry, that tears are healing, when tears dry up the tiny bits are proof toxins have been excreted from the body. Unashamed I let all tears.

That was about 16 years ago, at that point I became a Christian.

One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, he cried tears in prayers and he was healed.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26)

When you feel like crying in prayer, let it be, let the tears be, never hold back.

For both men and women, tears are a sign of courage, strength, and authenticity. In addition to physical detoxification, emotional tears heal the heart.

From: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-freedom/201007/the-health-benefits-tears%3famp

Before I forget, another lesson I learned, prayer is the first resort. It makes all the difference. You can take God's Word at that. Amen.

______________________

Luke 11

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread.

4 Forgive us our sins,

    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

Luke 11

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 

6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 

7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 

8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”