Are Hearts Created to Reach Out???

For three-quarters of a century, I’ve lived solely convinced our hearts were all created to reach out. Last Wednesday my soul realized otherwise. God created our hearts not to reach out but to pull in.

Wednesdays always find me volunteering at a Christian home for unwed young ladies, who are either with child or new moms. Having just put a little seven-month-old down for his nap, I, literally, bumped into one of the most amiable young ladies in the home. The last weeks of her pregnancy were anything but a piece of cake; but, nonetheless, she always is sweet icing to my cherished Wednesdays.

Face to face in the hallway, she sincerely shared the bubbling over emotions of her heart and soul. She announced the doctor had scheduled her to be induced the following Monday. Teary eyed she expressed her deep gratitude for all the volunteers who had loved her, walked by her side and cared about her and whose hearts would be waiting to love her little boy when she brought him back to the home. By now both of us were blurry eyed. My arms hugged her as my heart pulled her in.

I assured this soon to be mommy that we volunteers had done not nearly as much for her as she had done for us. For me personally, right then and there, she had taught me that God created our hearts not to reach out and help but to pull in and love. I added for her to make no mistake, all of us volunteers have pulled her into our hearts and love her and her baby. We all are members of God’s family and that’s what God created and commissioned His family to do.

And so, I now ponder even deeper. Did God create our hearts to reach out? Or did He create our hearts to pull in? I can reach out and still distance my heart from those to whom I am extending my caring and help. However, is this Jesus love? Didn’t Jesus choose to place Himself, His love, and His help in the midst of those He came to save? Doesn’t a heart that pulls in better image the love of Jesus?

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following in the example of Christ…” Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)