Matters of the Heart: A Deep Dive for 2025
As I have been praying about the new year—I contemplated some of the matters of the heart I have dealt with the past several years and what I wanted to pass down to my children and grandchildren. I thought of these life reminders to help them live with more “peace” and less “chaos and stress”.
Grow where you are planted. If you don’t like where you are, try to keep in mind nothing is ever permanent. Make a difference where you are- while you are there. Be productive.
Real plants can’t grow if you surround them with fake plants. This past year, I did what I’ve seen a few others do: I tucked some brightly colored artificial plants in with some real plants in a couple of pots that I had outside. They looked great! But I soon noticed the real plants withering. I added more water. I waited.
In a few weeks, the real plants had completely died from the outside to the soil! Something in the plastic caused serious damage to the root system of the real plants. When I discovered this, I pulled out the plastic plants and tossed them in the garbage. I trimmed back the dead and watered the roots—and prayed that I hadn’t completely destroyed the plant.
It took some time and a watchful eye, soon, the real plant popped her little head up from the ground. Lesson? Be careful who and what you surround yourself with. Enough said.
We can grow through grief. Grieving is a season, and grief often happens at unexpected times and for unforeseen reasons. You may think you are “done” with that season, and then something happens that causes the waves of grief to wash over you like it just happened. It’s okay to cry again. But be sure you praise again, too. Praise God for all that you have. Our hands aren’t tied to our sides…raise them and praise Him—No matter what.
If you hold onto the grief, it will stunt your growth if that’s all you focus on—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. At some point, you have to get up and wash your face and set your eyes toward heaven—and declare like David did, “I cannot bring him back, but I can go to where he is”, after the death of his first son with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:18-22).
Grieving is not always about a “person.” Sometimes, we grieve the seasons of our lives.
Examples: ~When we discover many things we can no longer do. It's quite a shock to the system and often our ego.
~Or when the reasoning ability of someone we love changes or even our reasoning power.
~A storm or even a fire can cause a season of indescribable grief.
~When too many things change in our lives at once, that is often when grief sets up camp.
Don’t avoid the hard places. Learn what God has for you in each of them. I think I've told you before when a movie or show starts going sideways—I will often find something else to do. I just prefer to remember that it all works out for Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty without the hardships in between. I know it does because it went on for 635 episodes in 20 seasons.
I realize that life is full of unavoidable hardships and trials. Remember, our hard place may not be all about us—our lives are connected to so many others' lives. If we can keep that in mind, it will help us through the trial at hand.
What we do affects others. Even how we act and react. This is too big to get into in this limited space. I am sure you understand what I'm saying: Do right. Act right. Talk right. Speaking of talking...
What we say and how we say it matters. I've heard many conversations in public places in my 63 years of living and my 47 years of working. From parents toward children, siblings toward one another, between employers and employees, and even among coworkers. It matters what you say and how you say things.
Always offer to pray. I remember about 15 years ago, about midmorning, one of my coworkers was about to leave for a root canal. She was very nervous, to say the least (I would be too), and on her way down the hall, she stopped me and reminded me to please pray for her this morning. I stopped, took her hands, and said, "Okay, let me do that right now.” I don't think she expected me to pray right then—but I reacted without much forethought of what was going on in the office. Normally, I would have considered where we were—and what was going on around us—if I might disturb someone—but not that particular morning. It was a reflex.
A question to myself and maybe to you too: Is it an automatic reflex to offer to pray right then—or do we promise to pray for them "when we pray"?
I want it to be my "go-to." I want my life to exemplify Christ so that I stop and pray when nudged, encourage you when needed, and help you pause and take a breath when I see you letting your emotions get out of hand. My good friend and counselor, Dr. Deborah, helped me "pause and take a breath" when I needed it most.
Keep things clean. From your mind, heart, and mouth to your surroundings. No one wants to live or work in a messy environment or be around obnoxious people who don’t seem to know when to “hush”. What you feed your heart, and mind will come out of your mouth. Same with your children.
So… what will be your deep dive for 2025? Cleaning out closets? Cleaning out the barns or attic and garage? Don’t forget the heart matters… keep it clean...
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