A veil of tears

The last few days have reminded me again, as if I needed it, that we live our lives through a veil of tears. Friends having to face their darkest times and there are no words that can ease the pain, or bring light to the dark. All I can do is offer my silent presence with them. This is from the Magicians Nephew and offers me some hope that there is a greater silent presence with my friends right now who will hold them in these times.

"Son of Adam" said Aslan, "are you ready to undo the wrong that you have done to my sweet country of Narnia on the very day of it's birth?"
"Well I don't see what I can do," said Digory "You see the Queen ran away and-"
"I asked, are you ready?" said the Lion.
"Yes" said Digory. He had for a second some wild idea of saying, "I'll try and help you if you'll promise to help my mother," But he realized in time that the Lion was not at all the kind of person one could try and make bargains with. But when he had said "Yes" he thought of his Mother and he thought of the dying hopes he had had, and how they were all dying away, and a lump came in his throat and tears in his eyes and he blurted out:
"But please, please - won't you- can't you give me something that will cure Mother?" Up till then he had been looking at the Lion's great feet and the huge claws on them; now in his despair, he looked up, at his face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shinning tears stood in the Lions eyes. They were such big bright tears compared with Digory's own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion really must be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself."(C.S.Lewis)