Things That Stir The Heart

Year 6-Day 277: Today, I am grateful for things that stir the heart. 

I am a sucker for Hallmark commercials and all the others that tug at the heart. Cards for former teachers or social workers as a young man with Downs Syndrome settles into his own apartment are priceless. Our hearts flood with warm and our eyes water a little. 

Remember the two little boys... strangers on a plane... who speak different languages sharing the proper way to eat an Oreo cookie while forming a friendship for the flight? Precious, right? 

Folgers commercials at the holidays are heart melting, especially when a soldier surprises his family with a homecoming. These things stir the heart and marketing companies know how to sell the feeling. 

"It is when our hearts are stirred that we become most aware of what they contain." -Andy Stanley

It is important to keep our hearts tender.  Jesus modeled this and spoke of it. The Samaritan woman at the well, the man at the pool awaiting healing, the lonely Matthew and Zacchaeus, the grieving Mary and Martha, the children who wanted to sit on his lap... and so many more who came to him and found compassion and a love like they had never experienced. Jesus didn't simply come to BE one of us. He came to be WITH US. 

Opening the heart is a choice. Free will requires a decision to open the heart or reject the love and the hope found in Christ. 

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ -Matthew 13:15 (NLT)

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. -Luke 6:36

True then. True know. I know I need reminders to keep my heart tender. Love is a risk, but one worth taking. Sure, we are likely to experience heartbreak along the way as we love other humans (and they love us), but the risk is worth it. People are imperfect. But, God's love is perfect and covers our sins and heals our hearts as we keep trying to get it right. 

We can choose compassion. We can look for a need. We can love fearlessly because He loved us first.  Jesus loved us to death and back again. 

Today, I am grateful for things that stir the heart.