Why Do I Even Watch Things That Make Me Cry?

As my husband came in here, I found myself trying to hide the fact that I was tearing up (oh hell, I was flat out crying really!) at a video by Craig Morgan (This Ain't Nothin').  I suspect that he thinks there is something wrong with people who cry.  And there is especially something wrong with people who go out of their way to watch things they KNOW will make them cry.

I have noticed that by allowing yourself to feel sad, you actually expand something inside you...I'm not sure what it is, but it almost feels like the act of pushing past the fear and allowing the pain and sorrow to come out, parts of you grow.  You grow stronger emotionally, you enable yourself to feel more joy, you allow yourself to start really seeing the things that are important.  I think your heart grows in both directions - as you delve into the part that feels sorrow, you also make it possible to go the opposite way and experience as much joy as you do sorrow.   

So when I hear Trace singing "Til the Last Shots Fired",  Toby singing "American Soldier" or John Michael singing, "Letters from Home"...I'll still go turn it up.  I'll get my girls to come watch because they "get" it.  And we'll cry.  We always do.