Taking Care of Your Heart
This space, surrounded by a fence with only a single door leading in, had become completely overtaken.
A mixture of weeds and cover crop filled every corner. Here and there, a few stones peeked through the overgrowth, reminding me of past attempts to tend to it. Remnants of good intentions remained, but somewhere along the way, life became busy, and this space was left uncultivated.
The truth was, it never reached its full potential.
It needed intentionality. It needed time. It needed diligence.
How many times had I neglected this space because I believed there were more worthy causes demanding my attention? There was always another responsibility, another task, another person who seemed to need me more. Yet deep down, I knew this space was meant to be something more. Something beautiful. Something greater than what it had become.
As I stood there looking at the garden, I realized my heart had operated much the same way.
A mixture of weeds and growth filled it. Some areas showed signs of healthy cultivation, while other areas had become overrun with fear, worry, disappointment, and neglect. Like the garden, I had often ignored my heart while focusing on what I believed were more important things.
The problem with this approach is that everything is affected by the condition of our hearts.
Even though the center of the garden was hidden beneath weeds, every part of the garden felt its effects.
In the same way, when our hearts become neglected, every area of our lives is touched by it. Our relationships, our decisions, our faith, our purpose, and even the way we see ourselves are influenced by what is growing within us.
Scripture reminds us of this truth:
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." — Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else.
Not after everything else is finished.
Not when we finally have extra time.
Not when life slows down.
Above all else.
Maybe taking care of our hearts is not a lesser priority after all. Maybe it is one of the most important things we can do because everything around us is affected by it.
So I want to ask you:
What is the state of your heart?
If your heart were a garden, what would be growing there today?
Would you find blooms of faith, hope, joy, and peace?
Or have weeds of fear, comparison, bitterness, anxiety, or disappointment begun to take over?
Have you been tending to your heart, or has it become neglected beneath the weight of life's responsibilities?
Friend, God cares deeply about the condition of your heart. He doesn't ask for perfection, but He does invite us to cultivate the space He has entrusted to us.
Because what grows in our hearts will eventually grow into every area of our lives.
The question is: What are you cultivating?
Your Friend,
Kylie