A Heart Like His

I have been thinking about the concept of an open heart. Last year we did a book club selection, A Heart Like His by Virginia Hinckley Pearce. It is a very simple book, a quick read. I really didn't think much about it. I guess I filed it away in a small recess of my brain where it gathered some dust. But I have been thinking about it quite a bit lately.

My sister Christi sent me a book to read last month, The Bonds That Make Us Free by C. Terry Warner. It has had a profound impact on her life and I have greatly enjoyed reading it. For some reason, it has helped me to remember the things I learned from Sister Pearce. We want to have a heart like Jesus Christ. It is what we should want.

Do things because you have a profound love of God and because it is the right thing to do. When your motivation is pure, everything works out: relationships heal, you heal, you exude love and are attractive to those around you. In other words, you become a window to the love of Christ. When people see you, they will really see Him. I love this. I have loved it intellectually for a while, but in the past few years I have tried and continue to try to practice this. I want a heart like His. I will question myself: why am I doing this? For what purpose? If I am afraid of offending someone, I will examine what my motivations truly are. If they are good and true, then why should I be afraid? I press forward.

We can get bogged down in our own insecurities and fear, whatever that fear may be. Why? Why should we be afraid? We have all been sent here by a loving Father in Heaven. Since I believe this is true, that means that I am very special. I can do anything. I want to unlock my heart even more. Yes, it may expose me and leave me vulnerable, but so what? There are people around me who need me. They need the things I can give: my loud laugh, my weird sense of humor, my sarcasm, my charming personality. They need all of it. It is who I am. I cherish it.

I may not have the perfect body or the cleanest house. I certainly am never going to win any sort of fashion award and I still bite my nails. However, I have been blessed with so many talents. I can sing, sew, decorate, teach, serve, and love, just to name a few. My heart will be open.

I am not going to timidly sing because I am afraid of looking silly. Nope. My voice will ring out (or sometimes crack, which frequently happens), whether it is with a large congregation or a small gathering. I will sing because it is what I love, but more importantly when I sing my very best every single time, I give others around me permission to sing their very best as well.

I will sew and decorate my best and share my creations with those around me. I love to create things and I will have an open heart so I can lift the hearts of those around me. Their joy is my joy just for the sheer pleasure of joy.

I will teach to my fullest and pursue learning because it brings pleasure to my mind and soul. I do it for the joy of it, not for what I hope it will bring to my kids by way of scholarships or awards. I teach because it is the right thing to do and I want my children tosee how much pleasure it brings to me, just to learn for learnings sake, not for the grade it will get.

I will love and cherish what I have because I know that it is a heavenly gift. Everything I have comes from God. I want to have that pure love of God woven into every fiber of my being. It takes one strand at a time, but I am learning. Even if I am used or mistreated, I don't want to ever be cynical or sour myself to humanity. I want an open heart like His.

A Tender Heart

Raef has the most tender heart I know of. He must have had it before he came to this earth. His sweetness and thoughtfulness are unparalleled for a boy of his age. This is great example of how wonderfully nice he is.

After church today, he came into the Primary room and gave me a cookie. I said thank you and ate the cookie. It was a good cookie. A lot of times the teacher will encourage the kids to give nice things to their parents. Well, I came to find out later that his teacher had given him two cookies to eat and he only ate one. He gave the other one to me. Now, this is a kid who LOVES treats. If it is made of sugar he will eat it. But today, he thought I would like a treat too. Isn't that just soooooo wonderful? Everyday he teaches me how I want to be when I grow up.

Plus, Raef always makes me Valentine's cards. I get one at least once a week. This is his latest one. On the back he signed his name...RAEF.