Kara Tippetts, a mother of four and woman dying of cancer, said this of her husband in an interview a few months before she passed away. It immediately caught my attention. She could have praised him in a myriad of other ways, like: "he helps me stay thankful" or "he helps me have perseverance." But instead - "a soft heart."
It seems so simple...yet isn't that one of the hardest things - to keep a soft heart when life hits hard?
For me, I think I find fear and pride to be my two greatest temptations. Often they intermingle in some weird combination. Usually my response is to clench my fists, fend for myself, and build walls...all in an attempt to protect myself. My heart grows cold and calloused...and I become hard-hearted.
And I see it all around me...
Christians and non-Christians alike battle over issues like political parties and moral convictions. Our attitudes say, "I'm right. You're wrong. End of story." Our pride blinds us to the person on the other side. All we can see is lines drawn in the sand. The division becomes a defense.
The same with breakups. Our bruised hearts seek to retaliate or act like it doesn't hurt. We're too proud, too afraid to be vulnerable again.
But what if we let our defenses down? What if we chose a different way? What if, when we just longed to curl up inside our fortresses, we would instead humbly, bravely reach out?
Because this is the kind of God we have. One who became undeniably vulnerable for our sake. One who was moved to compassion when He saw the masses like sheep going astray. One who let His heart be broken for Jerusalem when they did not see Him as their Messiah. One who wept.
In this world full of chaos and confusion where words are thrown like knives, maybe one of the bravest things we can do is nurture a soft heart.
With hearts as malleable as soft clay and as precious to Him as pure gold, we can be formed by Him and sent into the world to reflect all His glorious beauty.