Arianna came in the door with a downcast look and her saddened spirit was evident in her cautious, shuffling steps. I asked my little grandniece what was wrong, and she told me the story of her day at preschool. Playing with a friend, she had fallen, but being much too brave to tell the teacher about it, she waited until her mommy picked her up. Mommy heard the whole woeful story and found the nasty abrasion on Arianna’s tummy to substantiate it. By now, it was covered with a colorful bandaid, but there were still tears in her beautifully blue eyes. Of course, grandmas are made to be comforters, and Arianna wanted a warm hug. My “Does it still hurt?” almost brought a fresh downpour of tears, and wanting to encourage her, I followed my question with a reminder that sometimes grandmas and mommies cry too. She knew I was right, and she sadly announced, “Everybody cries when their booboo hurts.”
Oh, to be a child again, and know the freedom to express when my booboo hurts. But even Arianna wanted a safe place to share her hurt. She wanted listening ears and a listening heart, comfort and encouragement, but she wanted to know too that no matter what fractured her little world, she would still be loved and accepted. God never condemns our tears or the grief that causes them. The psalmist knew the safety of the shelter of God’s love and acceptance. Certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. He has not turned away my prayer nor His loving kindness from me. Jesus ministered in love to the diseased, the broken, and the ones left behind by death. His compassion is seen too with the one who has struggled with sin or wrestled with doubt. God “puts skin on” though when His safe place for the one with a hurt still raw and painful, becomes the ears and heart of another believer. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Weep with those who weep. Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted. Give grace ... In my own journey through life, there have been times I desperately needed a safe place to cry “when my booboo hurt.” God’s faithfulness has always provided as I poured out my heart to God, and many times He has given Himself to me in the flesh and blood and heart of someone who understood that my “booboo” still hurt.
(Related Bible reading: Psalm 116:1-8; Romans 12:9-16)
