What Breaks Your Heart?

Hey there,

Today, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts from the heart, as I sit here sipping my protein coffee while listening to praise and worship music in my office. I find myself planning my week, but my mind drifts to thinking about a sermon I watched online yesterday.

The pastor posed the question, “What breaks your heart?” He sited various verses and parables that pointed our responsibilities as Christians to love like Christ loves us. Living a life of love, service, and compassion is what the call of God is on my life. Whether that service is in a classroom, a closing table, a ball field, a campground, holding the door for a stranger, paying for the person’s lunch behind me, or in the quiet moments praying for others, my actions matter.

It seems that too often we see service as a “What’s in it for me?” mentality. If I do this, I can get that. Then if I post about it, maybe someone will recognize me for my good works. Right? Is that the kind of service He is looking for? Should that even be considered service at all? I am as guilty of this as anyone, but I continue to come back to the verse, “…do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). It is in the quiet that things happen. It is in the still quiet moments that we hear the still small voice of God. –Not the audible voice that says, “Kathy, you need to XYX!” (Don’t you wish you could hear that?)

Lately, I have witnessed so much hurt. Families who have lost their beloved child. A friend’s young granddaughter has been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of cancer. Friends are struggling financially. I see struggling marriages. Parents are struggling to meet the needs of their children. It makes some of my prayers seem so minute. We have all struggled, and God is in all of it. From the prayer to “Help me find my keys,” to Heal my brokenness” are all important to Jesus. He loves us and wants what is best for us.

So as we are creeping towards the Easter season, I want to be more intentional about my actions. I want to seek out the quiet “What breaks my heart?” moments. And if there is a way for me to help, that is what I want.

So, as I sip my coffee and reflect on the heartbreaks of life,  I encourage you to consider your answer to “What breaks your heart?” If we would all take this time to realize that we are called to “do something,” what a better world this would be!