It's late in the day. One of my sons called at 7:30 AM in a crisis and although he's calmed down, I have developed one of those splitting headaches you get when you cry too hard for too long. Do you ever cry like that?

After confiding in a friend this morning, I opened my Bible to Ecclesiastes 6:3. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. This doesn't mean that there is no value in laughter. (Proverbs 13 says laughter is good medicine.) This simply means that sooner or later, life presents circumstances that summon ancient pain.

The type of pain we spend years trying to silence with our perpetual "I'm fines" and propensity toward immediate gratification. Today is an opportunity for my son to be made better through grieving. Today is a day for my heart to be made better as I grieve for him.

Verse 4 goes on to say, the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. I suppose today, we are a house of mourning. Thankfully, I know that for every tear we cry, we will reap joy.

Where is your heart positioned today? Is it time to cry or time to laugh? To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: . . .  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance . . .