Men Do Cry

"Children in modern cultures, especially little boys, are taught that tears are a sign of weakness, 'Grown men don't cry,' we are told. One regrettable effect  of this perspective is the discomfort we feel about weeping in prayer. Our prejudice against such displays of emotion runs so high in some circles that crying is seen as a lack of faith in God. These opinions, however, run counter to many biblical examples of prayer. Therefore we must rid ourselves of this cultural straitjacket.  We must learn that, at times, only by bathing our words with tears can we adequately express our hearts to God." Richard Pratt, Pray with Your Eyes Open, p. 166