Tissues

It's this kind of funny thing that when you go to a women's church related conference, they always give you a pen and something to write on. But never have I ever been give the one thing that every one is going to need at some point in the conference. Tissues.

Happy tears. Sad tears. Angry tears. Relieved tears. Runny noses from hotel stays. I don't know why hotels always seem to come with a side of congestion. Anyway.

Everyone needs a tissue.

One time I was at a conference where one of the guest speakers was the wife of one of those Duck Dynasty guys. Clearly I'm super familiar with that whole family. At some point she teared up on stage and no one brought her a tissue!

It was my moment. I had been joking for years about the need for tissues at these events. And I had some in my bag. At the very back of the auditorium. But I hesitated. And I missed my moment.

Not long after that I started making piles of reusable tissue holders. And when I go to the conferences, I take them and hand them out to everyone.

I've been meaning to make some for Celebrate Recovery. Just to have on hand for anyone who needs one. Because sometimes we need to cry and I think handing somebody a tissue should be a moment of permission. Permission to be human. Permission to feel.

So today I finally got around to following through on that plan because tomorrow I'm going to make everyone cry. And it just seems like the responsible thing to do, to prepare them in advance.

I'll give them a tissue.