I’m sure you’ve all opened someone’s cabinet and seen a huge stack of plastic cool whip containers, or butter dishes. If they belong to someone else we usually say, “Why do you need so many plastic containers?” Or that could be what someone is saying to you?

I’ve finally escaped the plastic container addiction because I’ve sat on some beautiful park benches at LegoLand which have a sign explaining how many plastic milk cartons it took to make that bench. Recycling has helped me a lot.

My problem now is glass peanut butter jars. Anyone need them? 

You may feel like I have really flipped this week and fallen off a truck, but stay with me.

Today my Bible reading was Psalms 56. Did you know God recycles, too? Verses 8-9 speak of Him saving every tear we shed in a bottle. How many times have we been sad and cried about something all by ourselves, just wishing someone understood our pain, our loneliness, or our desperation? Whatever circumstance caused the tears — God saw it and is saving those tears. The Bible teacher I was listening to said, “God never wastes our sorrows.” 

We’ve all been warned to clean our plate so we don’t waste food. We pour the leftover water on the plants so we don’t waste water. We pass our used clothing on to someone else so we don’t waste clothes. But what’s the point of not wasting our sorrows? We don’t like sorrows. Men feel like putty when the female in their life is sad and all of their male greatness can not fix it.

When a family member physically hurts, and there’s nothing we can do to ease their pain — that’s a very helpless feeling. Why does God allow sorrow and why does he save every tear sorrow causes us?

I don’t have a good answer because I’m not God. But what I do know is based on the truths in the Bible and the umpteen years I’ve had a relationship with God. I trust Him. I’ve read so many times in the Bible that He has a plan for me and wants the best for me — for You too! So when He says He collects our tears, it has got to be for a good reason. 

There are rare times I’m so lonely for my family that I just burst into tears. When the tears finally stop flowing, it’s nice to remember God knows my heart and exactly how I feel. I don’t have to try to explain my sorrow. HE KNOWS! Why does it matter to God? Because He loves each of us so fiercely that even one tear rolling down our cheek is important to Him. He wants us to look to Him for our needs and for comfort. 

I love hugs. And God gives great hugs. (Now you really think I’m on pain meds!) I’m not sure how God pulls it off, but just when we need it, He’s there with a tissue and a comfort that no one else can provide. Not even that “perfect” spouse. God has the answer to every need we will ever have. Sorrow causes us pain.  Pain can drive us closer to God. Pain can also drive us farther from God because we are bitter, and mad and want to handle it ourselves. 

Bitterness and being mad, never made pain better. Jesus Christ is called the Great Physician for a lot of reasons. He recycles broken, used, stained, forgotten people and fashions them into beautiful trophies of grace. 

It’s a comfort to know the tears we shed are saved by God. Even the tears for others. Whatever breaks our hearts breaks His, too. Let God recycle your pain and give you a new heart for Him. Sure, tears will still come, but when they do, you aren’t alone in your grief, sorrow, or pain. Jesus is right there with you … waiting to give you a big hug! 

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