I thought of the contrast of cultural expectations versus the challenge of following Jesus. Men are taught not to cry (observing it as a sign of weakness), and yet Christians strive to have a heart like God (which means our hearts should break for the same things that His does). I considered one of the most profound (and short) verses in the Bible – when Jesus wept for the death of Lazarus before raising him from the dead.

Learning to Cry like Jesus did

Lord, it seems so hard sometimes for me to just cry
And express my sorrow and shame visually and understand why.
When I weep, in a way, it seems to me a shame that I cannot contain my emotional side;
And yet, I think of the time when You wept when your friend Lazarus had died.
You, who on Earth were fully God and also fully man, created us from nothing, and
Because You came down and became human and lived life, You help us understand
How and why we feel as we do. When we weep with a broken heart,
You are there to comfort us, bind up our wounds, and give us a brand new start.
We are told by Isaiah that You comfort all who mourn, and that You are with us in all our troubles, by Paul.
Knowing this, I know it is no shame for me to weep, because You are with me in grief, and will help me through it all.
So I pray, Lord Jesus, that when tears are drawn to my eye,
I would remember Your comforting presence, and feel no shame when I cry.