I wonder why I feel ashamed of feeing blue today. I won't tell anyone I feel sad, I won't act sad and I may not even let my self break into tears like I want to right now. I suppose somewhere in my childhood I felt sad and was told things like, "Why should you be sad?--stop it, " or, "Go to your room until you can act happy again," or, "So what, you are sad--why are your ruining everyone else's day?" or, the big one, "Stop crying or I will give you something to cry about."

As children, we have not learned yet that we "should" hold our feelings in and "act" like nothing is wrong even when something makes us sad or angry or scared.  But adults, who have "learned"the "proper" way to act shame children for showing their feelings. That is what happened to us--we were conditioned to believe our feelings were wrong, silly and needed to be covered up. Are we giving the same messages to our children?

Imagine how much healthier we would all be if, when we were sad, we simply sat down and cried and, when we were angry, we let our anger out and got rid of it instead of holding it inside and allowing it fester and grow--imagine how few ulcers we would have, how many less drugs we would be taking, and how much more mentally healthy we would be!

I just want to remind you, and myself (while I am feeling sad today) that people may tell you your feelings are silly, wrong and should be held in, but God invites us to share all of our feelings in authentic relationship and prayer. If you don't believe me, read the book of psalms again--prayers, cries and honest pain shared with God hundreds of times!

I am sad today--I am going to tell people, I am going to find a quiet space and cry my eyes out and I am going to tell God all about it--want to join me?