"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol." I Corinthians 13:1
The pictured quote by Angie Cartwright was recently posted on our Mothers Like Me Facebook page (www.motherslikeme@facebook.com) by a precious mom who is consistent about sharing her grieving heart and her hope.
Several years ago, I was introduced to another quote by A. DeLamartine that is included in our ministry brochure . . . "Grief knits two hearts in closer bonds than happiness ever can and common sufferings are far stronger links than common joys."
When I first read the quote by DeLamartine, I had to read and re-read it, because I had a hard time wrapping my mind (and my heart) around the idea that stronger bonds are formed through sharing "common sufferings" than sharing "common joys."
However, soon after the loss of our youngest son, Kevin, I realized the wisdom and truth of that quote, and the reason I had a hard time understanding the concept earlier was because I had not yet learned the griever's "language of the heart."
What does it mean to speak the "language of the heart?" For me, I believe this language is understood and spoken by those who are acquainted with grief, suffering and loss. And, I also believe that this language for followers of Christ comes out experiencing something of the sufferings of our Redeemer King who expressed and manifested the heart of God . . . His redeeming love introduced a new language to the world; the life-saving, life-changing, life-giving "language of the heart."
Not everyone who suffers loss is open to expressing their grief much less learning this new language. Many who suffer avoid and even deny themselves the relief of grieving and learning the griever's language, because they simply consider it to be a foreign language too difficult for them to learn and/or speak.
I relate the avoidance to learn this new language with my inability to learn Spanish. I have tried, practiced with a neighbor in Californa, but, I have yet to commit myself to what feels like a daunting task - it just doesn't come naturally and seems foreign to me, as English or any other language would feel to someone who speaks another language. And, this is true for learning to speak the "language of the heart."
As Mothers Like Me began our 7th "season of comfort" this September, Angie Cartwright's words remind us that our ministry of "faith, hope and love" is committed to speaking the "language of the heart," because we are truly "sisters of the heart" - bonded together by our "common sufferings" and by sharing "common joys," as we experience God's love, hope and healing peace.
If we give ourselves permission to grieve, find acceptance, comfort and encouragement in the company of others who grieve with hope, what might happen to us, as we learn to speak the "language of the heart?"
It is our hope and prayer that we will become more proficient in the use of this language, which in reality is the language of LOVE. "We grieve because we love." - Unknown
With Faith, Hope and Love in Christ,
Your "Sisters of the Heart" - Angie, Shelley, Christy, Stephanie and Julie
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