It Is Better To Have Loved

Four days ago I lost a dear friend. I had dared to open my heart knowing full well I was making myself vulnerable to loss.

There was a time in my life when I had locked my heart up tight and tossed the key. The entrance wasn’t what I was worried about, it was the exit. If no one entered, there was also no one leaving.

One day I lay my heart bare before God and asked Him to give me His heart. I had expected things like–being more patient with my husband and children, or more faith etc. Those things did start to occur, but what surprised me was that the “new heart”, “God’s heart”, didn’t come with a lock and key. The entrance was wide open.

I was pondering this. What does God’s heart look like? Jesus’ heart took in all and risked so much that He actually died of a broken heart. That is true love!

On discovery of this “new” open heart, I was nervous, but with God’s reassuring hand I let people in. Years have passed, I have lost count of how many have entered. I have experienced loss, I have dried my eyes of many tears, but something I discovered is a heart without friendship is like a plant trying to grow in a room without windows–it eventually shrivels up and dies. I found the more I let in, the bigger my heart grew. Although I have endured many losses the gains far outweigh the losses. I am a better person because of them.

It is better to have friended, than to have not known
It is better to have listened, than to have left torn

It is better to have loved, than to have missed love spoken
It is better to have cared, than to have left heartbroken

It is better to have laughed, than to have heart not open
It is better to have cried, than to have missed loves token

It is better to have dared, and to have risked rejection
It is better to have shared, than to have missed affection

Meet you soon on the great resurrection morning Sandy, I loved you… <3

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders, I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.” Psalm 81:6

(The featured painting was done in the Bible of another friend I had opened my heart to knowing I would lose her.)