HEART STRONG

How this squeezable heart ended up in our grandsons' toy stash, I'll never know. It's intended to help you squeeze away your anxieties, build up hand strength, or remind you how hard your real heart pumps to keep you alive! But I had additional thoughts--of the “heart” metaphor for the deep parts of our emotional and spiritual lives.

“The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,” Jesus said about people whose “walk” didn't match their “talk.” Then He got very specific: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18). Reading that list, I thought: Those are the plot lines for television shows and big-screen movies. But sadly, “art” imitates life. I can recall the physical sense of heaviness in my heart when I suffered from others' verbal sins.

Those Jesus entrusted with leading the early church saw the same problems. Paul bluntly warned the Ephesians to be truthful, keep short accounts, and watch their words: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths....Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:29, 31).

He similarly scolded the Colossians: “Rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Col. 3:8). James shared the same advice after comparing the tongue to a fire capable of much damage (James 3:5-6). He was disturbed that people who called themselves Christ-followers could use their mouths to both curse and praise. “My brothers and sisters,” he said, “this should not be!” (3:10).

How much better when the name and character of Jesus are lifted up in our ordinary lives. I like how James characterized what that looks like: “peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). Such are the character qualities that are squeezed out of a changed heart—one transformed by love for Jesus Christ.

Maybe that's the message needed for Valentine's Day--not sappy “luv,” but genuine, sacrificial love. The one made possible by the One who died on a cross. The One who showed us how to live with kindness and care—wholeheartedly.

P.S. In thinking about this topic, I looked up sayings about kindness. I'd heard this one before: “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” I never knew it came from former President Ronald Reagan. For more encouraging quotes about exercising that “kindness” muscle in your heart, try this website:

https://www.pinterest.com/stevenspianostu/speak-kindly/

And some more encouraging words...

I have a story in the newest "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book to be released this week, about "Making 'Me' Time." It's my seventh time in a Chicken Soup title, and I was especially grateful to be able to tell my story about donating home-sewn baby blankets to area hospitals and a pro-life clinic. I never dreamed that a simple project of a dozen blankets for my church's "community outreach day" would become more than 1,300, and also serve as emotional healing for me over the past decade. The story's title is "Patched-together Positives."

Tongue-tried

Part of a continuing series inspired by sights of Kauai.

I’m no botanist—just someone who appreciates beauty—so my reaction to this flower was, “Oh, look at the tongue on this one.” Actually, its Greek name means “tail flower,” and one thing you need to know about this bloom is that it’s poisonous. It contains calcium oxalate crystals, and even its sap can irritate the skin and eyes. In other words, look, don’t touch.  Don’t even think about tasting.

 But, oh—the beauty of the anthurium, native to the rain forests of Central and South America. They do well in Kauai’s humid climate, too, first brought to the islands more than a century ago. Here’s the story of how it happened.  In 1876, Edouard Andre, the head gardener of Paris, spotted an anthurium on an expedition to the rain forests of Colombia. Brought back to Europe, the specimens went from Belgium to the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in England. Then in 1889, Samuel Mills, Hawaii’s Minister of Finance, brought the first anthurium to England, planting it in the gardens of his estate.  A fussy tropical plant, it needs kept between 55-90 degrees F—preferably above 70 degrees.

What I called the “tongue” is actually the flower, which contains the plant’s reproductive system. That fact, I realized, was appropriate in light of truths that come from James’ blunt letter to Christians having problems with their tongues. That unruly slab of flesh in our mouths is prone to reproducing all sorts of negative “discharge,” like complaining, gossiping, murmuring, backbiting, and more. We tend to ignore our “tongue history,” but Jesus came down hard on it, particularly the words that deny the faith:

I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.(Matthew 12:36)

His disciple and half-brother, James, took it further:

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts…The tongue…is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body…no man can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison [like the anthurium!]…Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (James 3:5, 8, 10, bracketed comment added)

What’s the cure? A constant vigilance and restraint, remembering God hears every casual and negative word. Through Paul, we’re reminded to think (and also speak) of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).  Or, as has been popularized in posters, to consider the acrostic “THINK” before speaking. The letters stand for True, Helpful, Inspirational, Necessary, and Kind.

 Next time, when tried, tested or perturbed, stop and THINK. It will make a big difference.