A question like “Why are you crying?” can come across very differently depending on the tone of voice.
With sharpness and disdain, it sounds like a frustrated parent to a child who is upset over not getting a second helping of ice cream.
With softness and compassion, it is an invitation to share one’s innermost grief with a trusted friend who is ready to hear and help bear anything.
How you are asked determines what you are willing to share.
The challenge of faith is that we cannot hear the tone in the Father’s voice. But we always hear him with some kind of tone that we usually unconsciously transfer from someone else. Part of that challenge is learning, over time, to trust that his tone with us is always the second option.
