The movement for positive thinking sometimes misses the point.
It’s healthy to acknowledge that sometimes there is no positivity to consider. Sometimes a sad song is called for.
I recall hurting myself and my natural reaction was to give a yelp of anguish. I know that some people would want to suppress that or limit it to an absolute minimum. I know of some who will seek to hush up those who express loud cries of pain. This is often done under the thinking that it will do us little good and it’s important to ‘man up’, be strong and brave whilst showing no sign of weakness.
Actually God has no problem with that cry of pain. It’s healthy for the body to express its displeasure at that which brings ill health. It’s a cry desiring health again as soon as possible. Suppressing and negating this could be counterproductive. We could ignore important pleas for attention.
That can be the case in our physical body. It’s often the case among a communal body. Quite rightly we can’t be doing with the moaning and complaining. Yet often if we listen to people, we hear their sad song because they are in pain. Maybe we won’t heal it, but we can honour them by listening to the cry and hoping we can at least make our presence show we care.
That sad song could be the invitation for love that brothers and sisters need. For that to happen we must let people express pain and address each issue.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 