You can’t see them coming down from my eyes, so I have to make this blog cry. In honor of my mom’s Birthday this week (9/21) and how her tears have left a trail from what her eyes have seen, flowing down to where her heart has leaned. A faith blossomed by weeping waters, for all of us to follow her stream of example through our very own desert experiences.Please allow my tears to write out my heart as each drop on the paper tells of a different smear; but as Jesus has wiped each one away from drop to drop, these smears have been the mark that clears and eventually heals. She has cried her fair share, but none more telling than the ones that have been squeezed out of her by her sons.This mother of mine can’t tell me anything that her Christ-like actions did not already express. If she said it to me and my brothers, that’s because she lived it as a God-fearing mother. She birthed four boys into this world, and God gave her the perfectly untimed blessing of seeing her oldest son (John) off to heaven. That’s not a failure for a godly mom as the faithless would see it. Purely, that is the testing of faith as God knew my mother would see it.God was not surprised by our family’s tragic outcomes—He knew that through the hard-pressing on every side, this mother of mine would allow the pressing to push her harder in Him. Her tears still come with the thought of John’s passing and even with his Birthday that just passed, but you should see the path that they have paved directly to his daughter, Alivia.Tears that say to her, “Daddy’s with Jesus now and they both are watching over you from above.” And a few more for those looking on, “Don’t cry for me—cry for those who have never experienced God’s love.”You can’t see them coming down from my eyes, so I have to make this blog cry. In honor of my mom’s tears that have washed away any doubt about suffering successfully by faith, even when one of her son’s actions was a reckless disgrace. With three sons left in this world, God gave her the perfectly untimed blessing of watching her youngest son (me) go off to prison and subsequently spending 55 months locked away.That’s not a failure for a godly mom as the faithless would see it. Purely, that’s knowing God works all things for the good of those who love Him, and that’s how God desires us to see it. God was not shocked by what I had done nor where I was—He knew that through the hardSHIP I was responsible for setting sail, this mother of mine would sail directly toward Him.Tears still come with the thought of what I have done and whom I have harmed, but you should see the waters that have been stilled because of these weathered tears. Tears that say to me, “My son, you must follow Jesus now, and be sure to do all things for the kingdom’s gain.” And a few more fall for those looking on, “Don’t cry for me—help me wipe the tears of those drowning in pain.”My godly mother’s example watered my family’s faith through her tears, producing rivers in the desert and clear sight through all the smeared plights. “Mom, you can’t see them coming down from my eyes, so please allow me to make this blog cry. You’ve seen my tears of the past, but by your example I’ve learned to release them to oil my soul for the present.” Let us all remember that our tears are capable of writing out what God’s Word declares to those who grieve: that He will ‘give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified’” (Isaiah 61:3).