I needed to hear that.

I heard this talk from Sis. Virgina Hinkley Pearce. She compared our hearts to an apple. Sometimes things come along for the apple ( it could be a bird or a bug) and pick at the apple (our heart). Causing hurt to the apple.
I don't mean to be a whiner or a big cry baby but, for me personally lately I feel very picked at. Whether it be someone's actions or even their words we tend to get picked at a lot in this world. Even our own afflictions can cause hurt. Sometimes I feel like being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints puts a target on my back for people (sometimes family) to pick away and hurt what we value and respect most in our life. All my life I've heard the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I'm afraid that is one big lie. And who ever made this phrase up was probably lying to themself to hide their own pain.

But Sis. Pearce went on to explain that the apple had so much potential to be a beautiful delicious apple. But because it was hurt it sucked in at that picked spot and let itself become hard. No longer a beautiful delicious apple. I'm afraid sometimes in our lives we take those harsh words people say to us and turn our hearts in and that bitterness eventually starts to harden our hearts. There's still hope for that hurt picked at apple, if it's picked before it does turn hard. It can still be delicious and beautiful. So I guess I am adding my words to her words. I need to take my hurt heart and do something with it. Sometimes it's not going to immediately heal and feel better. But I've got to look at it with a heart like Christ.

Sis. Pearce wrote a book Called A Heart Like His. I haven't read it but she related a lot of her talk to it. I will look for this book and will be reading it soon. Hopefully I can do a post about what I learn. I am excited. I don't like feeling bitter about anyone. Bitterness makes it easier for the heart to turn hard and I know it may be obvious but I don't like the feeling my heart feels when I've been hurt. Hopefully through this journey I can get closer to having my heart to into a heart like His.