Small Gestures And Apple Cider

I went to our dorm devotional tonight. We had a combined singing with all of the other boys and girls dorms on my campus. It was beautiful. I sat in-between 2 of my girl-friends. One of them had an incredible soprano voice an the other had a superb alto voice. All during singing it was so hard for me to sing because of the beauty of everyone who was sitting around me. I almost could not handle myself. There is nothing in this world more beautiful than having your bothers and sisters raise their voices in praises to God. It was wonderful.

Now to the best part of the story. I was looking around and just observing the looks on faces as I usually do when we sing and I spot a dorm mom from a boys dorm. There are tears running down her face. I don't do well when other people cry. It breaks my heart in to tiny little pieces. So of course I am tearing up. It just makes my heart glad to see someone so moved by singing song to God. After we were done singing, I couldn't help myself, I had to seek out this dorm mom and thank her for her encouragement to me. I was walking over to get some apple cider and I saw her and I touched her shoulder and turned to me I told her that I couldn't help but notice her tears and I thanked her for them. I thanked for having such a tender heart and that it was such an encouragement to see someone get so emotional over praises to God. She is new in town and she said she could remember singing them with some children back home and just couldn't help herself. I can't even imagine. I could not even respond to her. All I could do was put my arms around her neck and give her the warmest, softest hug I could manage.
The world has made us so hard. We are supposed to stay strong and not show any emotion. If you do you are a cry baby or you are a sissy. What is wrong with having a tender heart? To show that something is special to you? I had one teacher from high school that gave me a graduation card that told me not to loose my soft side. I have no problem crying during a movie. I have accepted a long time ago that there are worse things that some one can be called than a baby. There are worse things I could be called that a sissy or soft. I have learned to accept my soft heart and just give in.
Don't be afraid to have a soft heart and to have compassion and loving everyone. You might be surprised to what it will get you.