Cry Baby

Joesph in the Bible is known for quite a few things. He had a coat of many colors, he was sold into slavery by his brothers, he interpreted dreams, he went from jail to second in command over all of Egypt for aiding the Pharaoh (King.) What he isn't known for is being someone that shed a lot of tears. I recently read through Genesis about Joseph's life and found that he did cry often. I think its odd that someone who was one of the Bible finest men who trusted God throughout the terribleness of his life, cried about everything.

Today there is a social norm that men shouldn't cry. Men need to be rough, tough and always fierce because they need to protect their wife, children, they need to not fall apart and show no weakness. If a man cries, then he is weak. That is one struggle that men go through today. Joesph cried all the time and he cried the most when it came to his family, those who were closest to him.

Its interesting that the Bible chose to say that Joseph cried. I believe that it was trying to make a point. Here was a man, who was the greatest man, aside from the Pharaoh, in all the land that wasn't even his native country, and he broke down and cried. Often times it says that he cried right in front of his family with great sorrow. But looking at Joseph in his life, we would never say that this man was weak. In fact, he has the kind of trust that many crave to have in God.

Crying is not a weakness, but a simple allowance of ourselves to let go of whatever pressure is on is. Jesus himself cried at the death of a friend. Men should look at the example of Joseph and see that crying is not weakness, but its truly a way to gain strength; to let out all that is on you and let God take control over what happens next.