The Heart of the Matter

Giving comes in all shapes and sizes. I’m not talking about sizes of the gift but sizes of the giving. To clarify even more, I’m not talking about the cost of the gift when referring to the size but the magnitude of the gift on the heart of the receiver.

Often, we get very practical when deciding on a gift. I have been the both the receiver and giver of underwear in either a Christmas stocking or Easter basket. I can remember as a child thinking this was ‘iffy’ on the scale of gifts. As a practical parent of many, it seemed an opportunity to replenish the stock of necessities. I’ve seen that ‘iffy’ look on my kids faces before. I recognized it immediately.

Sometimes our motivation in gift giving goes askew and we are guilty of giving a gift we want the other person to have. They just don’t know they want it yet, that’s our thinking.

Then every once and a while, we give a gift that touches the receiver’s heart. I believe these gifts are from the heart to the heart. It is one such gift I write about today.

We have an older family member, Flora, in the hospital recovering from a painful hip replacement. She has been through a lot physically in this ordeal but it is her heart we have been concerned about. Not in a health way but in a broken, heart-sick way. Her grown children have been a source of heartache in a time when she needs support and encouragement. We can see the look of pain on her face when she moves about but it is the pain in her voice which has us most concerned.

When the heart is heartsick, the soul and spirit are affected. A phone call the previous evening prompted my husband, John, to go spend time with her the next afternoon after work. Thinking it would cheer her up, he stopped to get her some traditional Hispanic soul food; beans, rice and tacos. While waiting for the food, divine inspiration hit and he made arrangements with a Mariachi musician to walk across the street to the hospital with him and play a few Christian worship songs for Flora. She loves worship music!

Through tears of joy she worshipped openly as this young Believer/musician played. My husband says the young man sang beautifully and reverently. It was evident his talent was a gift from God. Nurses listening outside the door were moved as well. It was a time of praise, prayer and heart healing. This young man ministered to Flora with his music, she ministered to him through prayer. John said it was a beautiful sight to behold.

This was a gift from the heart to the heart!

It may not have been practical like underwear but I believe Flora’s heart is better today for it! I’ve never been more proud of my husband. He touched my heart, too.