Oh the heart, how I need you!
The heart is the fountain of life (Proverbs 4:23). In an arid and weary land, it would serve you well to care for your heart. We expect a lot from our hearts. We expect our hearts to provide energy and enthusiasm for life. Even practically, we expect our hearts to beat and provide oxygen and resource to our entire body without us even giving it a second, no make that any thought. We expect forgiveness, healing, character, and endurance to be readily available for whenever – yes, I mean whenever – in the car, with the kids, handling our finances, helping a friend, planning dinner, making dinner, cleaning up dinner and doing it all over again tomorrow – all while don’t forget saving the world, one act of generosity at a time.
Do I nurture my own heart?
Have you ever really asked yourself, how kind am I to my own heart? Yes, the physical one matters, but here I am talking about your core deep you, intricately and wonderfully woven in the mysterious place of the womb. The heart is the first organ to develop in a embryo and our natural beings beautifully declare the brilliance of God’s design. How often do you place a priority, honor the power, or come back to the purpose of love in the core of who you are?
I did not realize how little I knew myself at my core. I could identify hobbies or interests, but knowing the true authentic me was awkward at best and to tell you the truth frightening at most. I have recruited society, my husband, the church, and whoever else may have an opinion to guide my life and to keep the desires of the heart in check, aka restrained. I was hoping I could pass off the responsibility of nurturing and navigating my own heart, yet apparently I am necessary to this process! I was blindly neglecting the truth that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12
Well, that would explain alot. Sickness, literal and of the soul, was mounting. I could feel the burnout on the inside of my body and my emotions felt heavy or numb. Was there a medicine, a scripture, a person who could heal me? I had tried those all before. What now? Now, it was time to come back to where my fountain flows from – my own heart. I was ready to come back to abide in and discover my own heart and soul – if Jesus chooses to abide in there, it can’t be that bad, can it? I was desperate enough to ask my heart the questions I had long ago denied. I was also brave enough to listen. I am so glad I did.
What is your heart saying? What does your heart need?
Maybe your beautifully and wonderfully designed heart is calling out to you. Hopefully it doesn’t have to scream as loud as mine did. Hopefully, you can hear its quiet whispers inviting you into a life worth living. Maybe you can hear the beat of its soul and you are beginning to move your feet to its rhythm. Maybe you have no idea what I am talking about but are still reading this post because you are intrigued by the magnificent mystery of it all.
Well, you have found yourself at a good place friend, your heart has served you well thus far, yet with more love, attentive kindness, and fulfillment just image the places you will go. I invite you to the Art of the Heart.
From my heart to yours,
