Bob Hope once quipped that “if you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”
From a Christian view that may well be so because charity is considered to be the highest form of love. When we lose our ability to love one another, we have troubled hearts indeed. As you may recall from Corinthians, we are reminded that no matter how generous our charity and kindness to others might be, if we don’t act with love, we may as well have not done anything at all. Why is this important?
It’s important because many of us suffer from broken hearts, heavy hearts, anything but joyful hearts. We look out at the world and all we can see are darkening clouds. Corruption, cruelty, and heartlessness boldly walk through our streets, bringing disruption and sadness. They appear to be winning, stepping up the game, getting worse by the day. They intrude into innocent lives and add to the burdens of those around them. They have left their hearts far behind.
Okay, we’ve acknowledged them. We’ve admitted they exist, but that is not the end of the story. The story is better than that. It is uplifting and joyful. It is refreshed and renewed each day by those who turn their hearts in God’s direction. He is the light and with each day, He creates the balance that brings us new chances to love and to thrive even beneath the clouds. All we must do is look up, reach out, give all we’ve got to making a difference in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in the places where we work. We are God’s ambassadors, His hands and feet, and He fills us with the kind of love that can never be overshadowed. He causes our spirits to soar. All we have to do is turn off the news feeds, turn away from the naysayers and the negative thinkers, and be the light. Be the love. Be the kindness that someone needs right now.
When we do that, the clouds are lifted, our anxious hearts are filled with peace, and we bring back the hope that everyone needs.
Faith, hope, and charity, illuminated by loving hearts can make all the difference. Here’s a little poem that I shared in my book, Heart Strings. It says:
If you need a little sunshine
‘Cause it’s been a cloudy day,
But nothing that you try to do
Can chase the blues away,
Then lift your heart to heaven
And say a little prayer,
And our God of light and sunshine
Will surely meet you there.
Then before you finish praying
The gloom will disappear
And you’ll be blessed with greater joy
And a heart that’s filled with cheer.
Let’s keep praying that all hearts will be transformed by love.