Tears of Joy, December 26
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Thomas Sherrod
But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy (Ezra 3:12 NIV).
We raised a foster child for two years. The little girl was three months old when we first saw her, and over two when officially adopted by a wonderful family. We thought we would keep in touch. Unfortunately, we lost touch with her for over twenty-five years. She was always on our minds. We dreamed of seeing her again, but began to reconcile ourselves to the reality that it may never happen. Through Facebook, one of our daughters reconnected with her. A meeting was arranged. We met in a public park. Tears rolled down my face as we saw her and sat with her for over an hour. The joy of seeing her again was an answered prayer I did not think would ever happen in this life.
Today’s scripture tells the story of the new temple foundation being laid in Jerusalem after seventy years of exile in Babylon. I’m sure many of those held captive in Babylon thought they would never see Jerusalem again. Seeing the foundation of the new temple being laid was beyond their wildest dreams. The picture is painted of old men who had seen the first temple weeping with loud voices. A more descriptive term may be wailing. I interpret their tears as tears of joy! They had been through so much suffering. The Psalmist writes, “How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?” (Psalm 137:4 NIV) But God brought them home after so many years! Sometimes tears can be thankful tears. We can be grateful for God’s blessings even in grief.
Tears can certainly be part of coping with cancer. The end of chemotherapy or radiation, hair beginning to grow, or strength gradually restored can all bring tears of joy. Seeing friends again can be a source of tremendous joy. You may have wondered if you would ever feel well again. You may have thought, “Is this my new normal?” My wife and I had resigned ourselves to never seeing our foster daughter again. The old men in our scripture never thought they would see the cornerstone of the temple being laid. God is full of surprises! May He open your eyes to behold and your heart to receive blessings only He can provide!
You may be in the midst of treatment and praying for recovery and release from your suffering. Enjoying long walks, bike riding or playing tennis again may seem out of the question. May you draw encouragement and comfort from the “old men” that shed tears of joy seeing the foundation of the new temple being laid.
Pray: Lord, thank You for reminding me that You never leave nor forsake Your people, and You are faithful to fulfill all Your promises. Thank you, Lord, for planting seeds of joy and hope that encourage me. Help me to see Your hand at work even in the valleys of life. Amen.
Your Turn: Visualize the crowd of “old men” gathered at the site of the new temple. What are they feeling? What are they saying to one another? What are they saying to you?
Thomas W. Sherrod, Cancer Survivor
Tom is a retired hospital chaplain who works part time for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health System in North Carolina. He organized and facilitated a cancer support group for twenty years as part of his hospital ministry. He is married for forty-four years and enjoys his three daughters, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. He is a recent survivor of prostate cancer and is immensely thankful for all of God's grace and provisions through it all.
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