Recently, I heard an interview that talked about the nature of our tears. I knew that our tears kept our eyes moist and helped wash out a speck of dust (that feels like a boulder). We may shed them when we are happy, sad, angry and perhaps when we peel onions. However, I did not realize the depth of information that we can discover about tears.

Of course, tears are all made up of water, oils, antibodies and enzymes, but I was surprised to learn that the composition changed depending on the reason we are crying.

There are tears called Basal or Reflex tears. Those are the basic ones that keep our eyes continuously lubricated. Those tears contain components that help fight infection that could develop in our eyes from day to day.

There are irritant driven tears such as from onions or dust. They are richer with even more water, electrolytes and antibodies that help dilute the irritant.

There are emotional tears; those that come when we are happy, sad or angry. These tears have proteins that contain natural pain killers that help our body cope with stress-related hormones such as cortisol. The tears are actually washing those hormones out of the body to help calm us. So, crying from time to time is good!

I also found a study that showed what tears look like under a microscope when they dry. Because of the formulation of the tears, some look like a city landscape as seen from an airplane. Others seem to represent the hills and valleys that would show up on a topography map. Still others look like frost on a window.

Obviously, God knew there would be tears in this life and He created their formulation to help us. I’ve seen people apologize for their tears. However, even Jesus wept at the death of his friend Lazarus … and he didn’t apologize for that. Jesus understands our tears because He felt them Himself. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV).

King David also understood this when he said to God in his prayers: “You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every single one in your book,” (Psalm 56:8 TLB). Here we see that God doesn’t just see our tears but keeps them and remembers them by writing them down. What a gentle, caring King!

Thankfully, we are told that weeping is temporary “…weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning,” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).

Even better is the fact that the time of tears will end! “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever,” (Revelation 21:4 TLB). This bit of information is only the tip of the iceberg but it is confirmation that we are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Psalm 139:14 NIV).

McCormack is author of a second book, “Journeys in Faith, Pursing Obedience,” containing more than 50 additional devotionals written for The Minot Daily News.