Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

B.B. and I were in our ‘green room’.  B.B. was working on my hair as usual, but she was extra careful.  “Stinker?  What is the meaning of life?  Why does everything have to come out wrong?  Why am I so messed up?”

I groaned.  I turned and faced her.  B.B.’s eyes were full of tears, and the tears were rolling down her face. “It’s called pregnancy’s emotional roller coaster.”

B.B. huffed, “Stinker, pick a different name for it.  I don’t like roller coasters.  And some of these emotions I feel right now, I have never ever felt.”

I snickered, “Yeah!  You are having surges in your hormones.  They’ll settle down, just in time for other hormones to surge.  That’s why they call it a roller coaster.  But hormones are not the only cause.  Have you been getting good sleep lately?”

B.B. moaned, “I don’t know.  I guess.  I gave up about four this morning and reread the Scriptures we were studying today.  That didn’t help.  I started crying.  I finally got back to sleep.”

I shrugged, “Fatigue factors in with the hormones on the roller coaster.  I dare not ask this question.  I know the answer.  How is work going?”

B.B. made a face, “Jemima Yeggs, I will have you know that my work stress is not what it used to be.  Some horrible people, namely you, Easy and my husband, finally convinced me that my perfectionism and OCD were the problems with my employees.  They are creative people.  So, being micromanaged, their creativity is stifled.  So, I am learning to let go.  So, see my stress level is down.”

I shook my head.  “No, your stress is now different.  You are experiencing change.  Change is always stressful even though this change reduces the stress of overworking yourself.  How is Wilma working out?”

B.B. cried even more, “Who? The one who is bubblier than my best friend?  The one who has the body of a … umm … a … I don’t want to say porn star or stripper.  Dolly Parton has her beat, but not by much.  I think if you checkout the demographics of who watches our live reporting segments while storm chasing, I think there is a surge in young guys wanting to see a wardrobe malfunction.”

I smiled, “Okay, we can add the fear of life changes.  I know you, B.B.  You will regain your figure faster than Dr. Ellie and I have done.  Umm.  That is when we get there.  And your upper frontals will be larger while you breast feed.  So, you will give Wilma a little competition.  And maybe that Mommy glow will make up the difference.”

B.B. groaned, “You really think so?”

I winked, “I know so.  Don’t you come to me for your answers because I have been there already?  Now wipe your face.  No one wants to see your mascara running.”

B.B. said, “But I never wear mascara.”

I moaned, “Why do I have you as a best friend?  Thick long eyelashes.  Perfect eyebrows.  And it’s all natural.  I have to paint mine like crazy for Easy to even realize that I have eyes!”

B.B. giggled, “Easy notices, but he rarely says anything.  And I must have perfect eyes, they are always on camera.  Yours are at the other side of the camera, girlfriend.”

I moaned even more, “And the roller coaster reaches bottom, levels out, and starts back up, just in time for the television personality to meet her audience.  And my eyes are not that ugly!”

B.B. smiled, showing her perfect, brilliantly white teeth, “Of course, and you have a Sunday school class to teach.”

We entered the den and nodded at Joseph to open us in prayer.

Joseph led us in prayer with no interruption from Arabella.  Then again, where was Arabella?

Just in time to join the choir, Arabella ran into the room.  She’s going to have to change her bathroom schedule.

Emmett’s band was great, as usual.  The song was God Shall Wipe Away All Tears.

I asked, “Emmett, I am so disappointed that you couldn’t find a song that matched our topic today.”

Emmett shook his head, “No, I was busy at the church.  I’ll try to do better next week.”

Samuel said, “Aunt Jemima, what Attribute of God are we studying today?”

I laughed, “Samuel, we are looking at God who wipes away our tears.  Arabella, do we need Mr. Dictionary?”

Arabella sighed, “I think I know what a tear wiper is.  It means God is a tissue.”

Easy groaned, “Behave, Fireball!”

Arabella (Isaiah 27:7-8) “On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.”

Arabella asked, “I thought wiping tears just talks about going to Heaven?”

I laughed, “What make you think this is not talking about the End Times?”

Arabella shrugged, “It’s in Isaiah.  Old Testament.  We look to Revelation for End Times stuff!”

I smiled, “Belle, there are a lot of End Times prophecies in books other than Revelation.  And some of those are in the Old Testament.  There is a lot in Isaiah that pertains to the End Times.  Daniel, Zechariah, Joel and Malachi speak of the End Times.  But this does not have to be the End Times.  When each of us die, we go to Paradise to be with Jesus.”

Arabella asked, “But what is this about a shroud that enfolds us?  And a sheet that covers the nations?”

Joseph smiled, “Many theologians speak of a veil that separates us between this world and God.  We could look at this passage as our passing away and the veil is pulled away.  Then the first thing we see is Jesus smiling down at us.  The Scriptures talk about how we will see the glory of God, but what more glorious than to see Jesus?  So, shroud, sheet, or veil, it is a thin barrier between us and God’s glory, just like our tears are a thin barrier to nourish and protect the eyes.”

Arabella made the hand motions and noise that signified that her mind was blown.

Michael Rowe Casey (Luke 7:36-50) “When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Michael said, “Why didn’t Blaise get this one?”

I smiled, “Your Mom and Dad said you were really good at reading out loud.  And they were right.”

Michael shrugged, “These verses talk about a woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, but how does this apply to God washing away our tears?”

I said, “What does Jesus tell the woman?”

Michael said, “Two things.  He says her sins are forgiven.  But then the Pharisees got upset that Jesus was forgiving sins.  They did not realize that Jesus is God, and He can forgive sins.  But then, Jesus says that her faith has saved her.”

I smiled, “And what do sins do to us?”

Michael looked confused, “I don’t know where you’re going, Aunt Jemima.”

I smiled, “God is going to wipe away our tears, but our tears could be there because we have sinned.  Our separation from God can be an added form of a veil between us and God.”

Joseline (Amazon) asked, “Can I say something, Aunt Jemima?”  I nodded, and she continued.  “There are three types of tears, actually two ways of seeing that.  There is aqueous humor, watery tears.  They come from glands above the upper eyelids.  This is what nourishes the cornea and the water covers our eyes.  Then there is mucus that causes the aqueous humor to cling to the eyes.  But then this is covered by oily tears.  The oil keeps the watery tears from evaporating before the water has done us any good.  Those are the things of which tears are comprised.  But there are three types of tears.  Basal tears are the basic tears to nourish and protect the eyes.  Reflex tears are produced when we are exposed to dust or smoke.  When you cut onions, those are reflex tears.  But then there is a third type of tears, emotional tears.  And the strange thing about emotional tears is that these tears have a hormone that calms us.  So, when we get emotional, the tears we produce help us calm back down.  Kevin was taught to never cry.  Grown men do not cry, according to his parents, but producing tears calms us, and the emotions have less of a chance of getting out of control.  So, let the tears flow.  When we get to Heaven, we will have perfect bodies, and God promises us there is no crying.”

I said, “Wait on that, Jos.”

Jos (Revelation 7:17) “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’  ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”’ ”

Jos said, “When we read the verses that lead up to this verse, we see that these are the people who made it through the great tribulation.  Those who make it through the great tribulation have a lot in which to shed tears, both emotional and reflex tears.  But it also says that their garments will be washed by the blood of the Lamb.  So, they are now before God in Heaven.”

I said, “Thanks, Jos, for the science and your insight.”

Kevin (Revelation 21:4) “‘”He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death” or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

Kevin smiled, “Now we get to Arabella’s verse.  While Jos’ verse speaks only about those who endured the tribulation, this verse is for all of us.  No death, no crying, no pain.  Our bodies will become uncorruptible.  Why would we have any tears?”

I smiled, “This could be symbolic.  Jos mentioned that sin may be a layer over our eyes like the shroud or sheet mentioned in Isaiah 25.  But we might have tears of Joy because Jesus is right there.  Or it could be symbolic of wiping off any remnant of our former life.  Does anyone else have an idea?”

Mamma Missy said, “I think there will be emotions in Heaven.  We will definitely experience love.  We will have joy.  We will be very grateful.  How could there be hope when we are in God’s presence?  But maybe wiping away tears is to let us know that we will still have emotions in Heaven.”

Joseph said, “That is a great idea, Mamma Missy.”

Grannie Fannie (Romans 15:13) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke came over and got Stormie’s carrier.  “Hi, Stormie.  It’s Aunt Brooke and Uncle Goober.  Let’s go hear more about God.”

Stormie laughed.

B.B. came over and hugged me.  “I am so glad to have you for a friend.”

I thought to myself.  Has her roller coaster made it back to the top of the hill, or does she have another hour of being abnormally positive in her emotions?  Only time will tell.

Credits

The nature of the blog from Sweet to the Soul Ministries gives only one verse.  I used various searches and cross references for the other verses.  I used just a few sources.

The pregnancy emotional roller coaster ideas came from various websites.

Here is John Rogers singing God Shall Wipe Away All Tears.

What will our Heavenly tears be?  I have no clue, but God does and He has a tissue waiting for us.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.