Perfectly tender beating heart...

The often quoted saying goes, ' be kind for everyone that you meet is fighting a hard battle' and so we should arm ourselves with compassion. We should ready ourselves by realising that we all have weaknesses. There is one area of weakness in my life where I am greeted with a smile. It's kind of like, "Hey you pretty lady, come over here and serve me" followed by an enticing grin. I've journal-ed about this temptation, prayed about it, worshiped out of it, looked for the root, been for prayer about it, spoken to people about it but it still tempts me and it always will. God is there even in our weakness therefore if we mimic God we should be there for those who are being tempted and are hurting. Note to self: Compassion can be effective to others when we've experience it for ourselves.

I heard a story a few months back and immediately I knew it was going to be the gold lining of my heart. A wise man blessed me with this richness, a treasured gem. It was like gold dust on my hands that I couldn't rub off but want to rub on others. The story goes that on a Friday a young school boy, lets name him Jim, would walk home with his entire lockercontents. But every Friday another boy, lets call him Jack, would offer to help Jim carry his books home. Week after week Jim and Jack would walk together carrying books whilst chatting and after sometime they became good friends. Later in his schooling career Jim became head boy and when Jim was given the opportunity to make a speech to reflect on all his schooling years, the real story came out. Jim told the story of how every Friday he was planning to commit suicide and so he would unpack, clear and clean his locker so that his parents wouldn't have to once he had died. But every week Jack would offer to help carry the books and how he felt a little better and better and would postpone his suicide to the next week. After spending time with Jack he felt much better and his view on life held more meaning and purpose. He went on to becoming head boy because someone kind enough helped him carry his books. Just goes to show we never know what someone else is going through. Don't judge a book by its cover!

Jesus was motivated to heal because he was moved with compassion. Something in his heart was touched. Something stirred in it. It was love. His heart was moved with love. It was always about love. It always is.

Today when I attended graduation I was like 'ah boring. here we go again. Formalities and no heart and soul'. I was awakened and my tear duct buckled when in the midst of the sterile navy synthetic fabric environment a scholar who was in a wheel chair crossed the stage. The entire audience roared with cheers, whistles, shouting, applause and encouragement. My heart leaped to see some human emotion! wahooo! The sea of faces are alive. But what stood out to me was the struggle that that student must have been through to finish his degree. It didn't look like he had much movement in his hands or legs but it looked like he was controlling the wheel chair with his beautiful treasured mouth. He must've had to do his exams orally and slowly move to varsity each day. My heart was overcome with emotion for him and I realised that there are touches of humanity even in the most sterile places. I think the roar was everyone saying ' I acknowledge your struggle and I commend you for overcoming. It was tough but you did it and we back you!'. Sometimes the simplest phrases are the most difficult to say but the most profound of them all. "You look pretty, Well done, keep going" can keep one going longer than one thinks!

We are all humans. We all hurt. We all need love. So give it! As you give love, you gather it. Love given refreshes our own souls. We all have perfectly tender beating hearts.

Bless your tender souls,
Love,
Sarah x x

Fun fact:
this image is not mine, even if I wish it was!