Tears in a Bottle

Tears in a Bottle

by Sharron Cosby

 

“You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book”

(Psalm 56:8, TLB).

 

Many nights I tossed and turned, worrying about my son. Where would his addiction lead him? Prison, death, or both? My pillow blotted my leaking tears.

We all cry at some time in our lives. Financial failures almost guarantee a torrent of water works. A devastating medical diagnosis causes a rainfall.

Writers cry. We weep when our manuscript comes back from our editor in fifty shades of red. How could there be that many edits? Or after waiting for months to receive an acceptance email, we read, “We regret to inform you . . .” instead. Expectations of a New York bestseller vanish when book sales flop. Our tear ducts go into overdrive, washing away our dreams.

Grab a tissue. Or maybe the entire box.

This verse assures us that God sees our tossing and turning. The hand wringing. Staring for hours at that incessantly blinking cursor on a blank screen. The Lord knows about our dreams because he put them in our hearts. He pours them into us along with his messages to encourage the hopeless and to offer peace as a salve to frantic souls.

Can you envision the Creator placing a crystal vial beneath your eyes to capture your tears?

I imagine one day my heavenly Father will take my bottle from the shelf and drip the tears, one by one, into his hands. Perhaps he’ll run a silk thread through each salty drop and lift the string to his lips. He’ll exhale them like a child scattering dandelion seeds. The droplets will shimmer like a million Christmas lights as he drapes the clouds with their brilliance.

He turned my sorrow into joy. He’ll do the same for you.

Father, thank you for the tears you capture and bring to life, infused by your light. Don’t waste their saltiness. Create a sweet remembrance of your love and faithfulness. Amen.

 

 

 

Sharron Cosby is a proud Alabama native transplanted in the sands of Florida. Sharron is an award-winning author and loves speaking to groups on her family’s journey through addiction, although she can address other topics. Her book, Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90, is a devotional for families who love an addict. Connect with Sharron at www.SharronCosby.com