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Lifting a Broken Heart

While scanning the Internet I came across an image of an older woman talking to a younger woman. In the caption the older woman is saying, "Well, I don't know. Some things in life, like the color of a house, don't really matter. But, lifting someone's heart? Now, that matters." (Source)

Nearby on the same web page is another encouraging saying. Mildred B. Vermont, an author and writer, obviously knew the secret to lifting someone's heart and wrote a number of popular quotes. One of her highly favored quotes among women says: "Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love." This is so true.

But sometimes a mom's heart needs love to lift it up. A while ago presidential candidate Trump made an unkind remark (during a Rolling Stone interview) about Carly Fiorina's personal appearance. Carly, also a presidential candidate, was offended by the remark, as were many. Carly is a mother and a wife and a real person with real feelings. She felt the heavy sting of his insensitive remark.

Carly has a support group and was lovingly encouraged by family, friends and supporters to consider the source and move on. With lifted heart, Carly found the resolve to rise above the fray and prepare for the long and difficult road to the White House. She took the blow, dealt with it, and stood up to face her presidential challenger head on.

I like that about people and leaders in particular. I like that about Fiorina. She faces every day with dignity and poise. There is no fear and no retreat and no excuse in her vocabulary. Her steadfast spirit is not at all surprising because Lucinda Borkett-Jones, an editor for Christian Today, wrote in her column that Carly confesses to be a Christian:

...she [Carly] said in an interview with CBN News that her faith had helped her get through personal difficulties, including the death of her step-daughter Lori Ann in 2009, and her own battle with cancer..."I am quite certain, that I would not have been able to endure those without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ"...(Source)

But I digress. This article is not about politicians, although we can learn from them. This article is about family and friends finding ways to lift someone's heart, as with Carly's. I have not always lifted someone's heart nor have I always known to do so. It's so easy to drift into our own world away from the internal sadness of others.

One true story that will touch your heart is about a little girl named Meredith and her pet dog named Abbey. The dog was not feeling well and passed away. The girl was broken-hearted, so her mom looked for a way to help and together they wrote a letter to God. Meredith enclosed a photo along with the letter so God would be sure to recognize Abbey among all the animals in heaven. Sometime later Meredith received a package in the mail containing a book about pets that go to heaven. Included within the book were a letter and the original picture of Abbey. The letter said:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

Love, God (Source)

What a tremendous true story. It's a great example of someone lifting a broken heart. What I understand from the story is a postal person of unknown standing, working in the dead-letter room, read the letter and wrote the response. Though the postal person remains unknown, God knows who he or she is. Perhaps God nudged this person, a mother or father perhaps, to do this incredibly compassionate thing for a sad heart.

Would God really get involved? Who's to say? No one knows for sure in this instance, though He could have. We know God answers prayers and now it would appear letters too. He moves in ways we barely see and seldom appreciate. Some people in life, like the postal person, may not think they really matter so much in the scheme of things but they really do. We all do.

In closing, we are not here to be rich or well-known like Trump and Fiorina. Our call is not to travel to distant lands, manage corporations, or build tall buildings. Our call is to be faithful and if that means lifting a sad heart like Meredith's, then what could be better and matter more?

Shalom!

Note: Some people believe pets go to heaven. I believe they do if we ask (Matthew 7:7). The Bible also says that with God all things are possible and nothing is too difficult for Him (Matthew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:27). So, if you have a pet, ask. We all might be surprised.

Image Credit: Michael Griffiths; "Lindy's Broken Heart"; Creative Commons

Tags: Biblical-Truth | Christian-Life | Hardships | Personal-Relationships

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Published 9-29-15