I recently stumbled upon Faith Hill’s When You Cry and was reminded of a curious pattern. I have never been one to pay much attention to music. Despite this, it seems that when I am overcome with sadness a song pops up, seemingly out of nowhere, that speaks to my aching heart. Noteworthy, the lyrics seem to have been scripted in the heavenly realms to remind me that the spiritual beings stand ready to help.
On the surface many songs appear to suggest that another person awaits to fill this role. But within the lyrics of the songs that just pop up, I have discovered a much deeper meaning. The songs are a reminder to look beyond the surface to the ones who are always there for us – The Divine and her cadre of assistants.
When You Cry is just such a song.
“I’ll be there to lift you up
I’ll dry your eyes, oh, when you cry
When you’re alone and nobody’s there
To take you through the night
Oh, when nothings right
Call out my name
Oh, don’t be ashamed to say you need a hand.”
Most of us have experienced times in life when it feels as if we are buried under a blanket of sorrow, a blanket that is too heavy to lift-off ourselves. If this sounds familiar, you may also know the yearning for comfort and relief that accompanies. Yearning that can’t be filled by another. Many of us are lucky enough to have someone in our life who appears to fill that role. But it is rare that a beloved always can comfort us. And if we are honest, there are times when that beloved is the source of our sorrow.
Even the strongest and most independent among us reach a point when they need someone else’s strength.
Do you recognize yourself in these lyrics?
“You’re always strong
Always got a hand
To lend to someone else
Don’t need no one else
What about those times
When that heart inside
Is crying out for love
For someone, baby
Someone to lean on
When the tears start to fall
Lean on me, I’ll see you through it all
Just hold on, hold on.”
The next time you feel this deep sorrow listen to When You Cry. It’s a few clicks away on YouTube https://youtu.be/vNpIQ01Xr_0?si=V4KlsaVWOryGTW45“. No writing of this can come close to capturing the beauty of Faith Hill’s rendition of the song. Powerful emotions leap out from her every utterance. It is a heartfelt reminder that the Divine can handle the burden when we can’t.
Life can be overwhelming. So why not turn to the help that is always available. As the refrain of When You Cry so poignantly reminds us,
“When you cry, I will dry your eyes
When you fall, I’ll lift you up high
You just reach for these arms of mine
I promise they won’t let you go
And I’ll make you smile, when you cry.”
Wishing you a season filled with joy!
Joanne
