“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” -Romans 13:12
When I was still drinking, I used to cry often. Daily, in fact. Most of the time, I felt anxious, sad, and frustrated. I would cry over everything and nothing. It seemed like I was always on the verge of tears, and it didn’t take much to push me over the edge. Something like a broken glass, an unexpected bill, a burnt meal, or a sad song was all it took! My emotional state was fragile because of the alcohol. This is what I think of when I read the above passage and it refers to “the works of darkness.” Alcohol caused a darkening of my daily mood, erasure of my resilience, and tears…lots of tears!
I’ve heard that tears are your body’s way of releasing stress. It’s a way of compensating for and countering the unpleasant emotions you’re experiencing. That was certainly true in my case! But after I stopped drinking, my body no longer needed to compensate for anything, and within a few weeks, I felt like a completely different person! I became calm, optimistic, and upbeat. The most tangible evidence of my mood change was that I had stopped crying so much. It gradually decreased after I quit drinking and I rarely cry at all now, which has been so freeing! These days, the only time I cry is if something is really wrong. But overall, my mood is steady and I can easily handle the little curves that life throws my way. I’m living in the light again by the grace of God and so grateful to be smiling instead of crying as I go about my days.
Thanks for reading! I hope that you’re moving towards a lighter, brighter existence today, too!
