What Gets Me

Do you ever find there are certain subjects that can bring you to tears almost instantly?

If you know me, you know that I tend to get teary. I've actually always hated that about myself. It's kind of embarrassing to always be the one who's desperate for the kleenex after a Hallmark commercial.

Real life example:
I met this elderly couple the other day. It doesn't really matter who they are, but they were over 80 years old. After spending the evening with them, I learned that they had only been married for 6 years. It's funny that I assumed they were lifelong partners just because of their age. Pretty soon, we began to hear about their "story" and how they met. It was a very sweet story. I also learned about the tragic death of the man's first wife of many many many years. It was a sudden accident. So there I was. Trying to hold back my tears just listening to this man talk about the emotional struggle he went through.

I always knew I had a strange emotional quirk when it came to these things. I just can't even imagine spending an entire lifetime with someone and what it would be like to have that end. I know that at this moment, if something happened to my husband, I would be an absolute mess. Add 50 or 60 more years of marriage....I don't even know where to begin to imagine.

It's not always sad thoughts that make me like this....recently I found myself blubbering while watching a high school senior speak at baccalaureate. I know this senior and have seen him grow over many years-It just hit me so hard. I had so much joy in my heart over who he is and who he's become, it was like I couldn't react any other way.

I know God made me this way for a reason. I still get embarrassed, and I probably will always feel a twinge of that. But at the same time, I'm learning to embrace that God put those soft spots in my heart purposely. It's Him that allows my heart to feel empathy or joy.

So, for now, I'm totally cool with the fact that I cried 3 times during the movie "Up".