The loss of a parent. The loss of a sibling, a child, a loved one. The loss of a career, a house, your health.The loss of a dream.
Heartbreak.
The rock in your throat. The nausea. The overwhelming veil of hopelessness. Your arms so heavy they refuse to lift. Every action forced. Every breath labored. Everywhere dark.
Recently I listened to a song I’ve heard many times (“Hosana” by Hillsong). One of the lines continues to play over and over in my head this week.
“Open up my eyes to the things unseen…break my heart for what breaks yours.”
Wow.
I wonder what remains unseen because our eyes aren’t open.
I wonder what breaks God’s heart. I wonder what experiences people are going through this very second that would break mine.
I think one big piece of GRACIOUS GIVING is not just writing a check or spending two hours a week helping an organization. Part of the process GRACIOUS GIVING is finding something in the world that breaks your heart and educating yourself about it.
8 comments:
at church this past weekend was the first time i had heard that song and that line from it struck me then and has stayed with me all week. so strange that you write about it now! (or not strange, but God??) and i think you're right- it's not about just giving or doing an action, but sometimes just being there and being brokenhearted with someone when they go through something. that can mean more than anything. i think of the verse when Lazarus died and "Jesus wept". he didn't do anything right then, just felt the pain with the others and that was enough. thanks for sharing your thoughts and heart! :) love you girl!
Love you! I can't wait to meet baby Ezra or Finn or Georgia or...ugh, I can't think of the other girl name. Anyway, can't wait.
It's almost overwhelming to me to consider the sufferings of others right now. Thank you for the reminder someone, somewhere, is suffering. Prayers offered for their needs; spiritual and physical.
What a beautiful post. And you describe heart stopping grief like someone who's experienced it.
I look forward to more posts and I'm glad to find you!
Jenny,
I wrote this on your blog, but I need to say it again- Your pictures are AMAZING! I'm emailing a photographer friend your blog address...love it.
Rebecca,
So happy you stopped by!
Hmmm...you're making me think. I can immediately come up with a list of things that have broken my heart. But what would break the heart of God? My selfishness, my sin, my idolatry of anything above God...
Thanks for provoking my repentance. We sometimes need reminders to reflect and confess.
Blessings,
Lisa
I confess that I'm not brave enough to ask God to break my heart. It may be a matter of trust, I'm not sure.
The things God could do to break my heart--through my marriage, my kids, my work, my health, my extended family--some of these things will break eventually anyway as my parents age, as my own body ages, as my kids become teenagers [shudder]. I pray that God strengthens my heart for the hard days.
What breaks God's heart? I assume he doesn't like to be ignored. I'm told that neglect is the worst kind of abuse. And yet I neglect God all the time...
Great post.
Post a Comment
Talk to me, friends.