Here’s My Heart

Here’s My Heart

We finished up our Wandering Heart sermon series with the resurrected Jesus extending grace to Peter for denying him three times. Three times he asked Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter said, “Yes Lord, you know I love you.” Three times the Lord of second chances said, “Take care of my sheep.” Sunday in church, I mentioned this was Jesus’ way of saying, “Here’s my heart, the ones I love. Take care of them.” And Peter, in response to that command, devoting himself to Christ, gave Jesus his own heart by tending to the sheep and adding to the flock with the start of the church.

Thinking about giving our heart to Jesus, Rev. Sara Speed of A Sanctified Art wrote this poem which is inspired by another poem, “The Lanyard” by Billy Collins .

 

Here’s My Heart

As a child I made a nativity set for my mother— pinch pot clay, uneven angel wings,

hair made with the help of a garlic press, Joseph’s staff rolled out like I was God and it was an earthworm.

There was nothing beautiful about it, nothing whispering of talent, but I made it for my mother!

So I wrapped that questionable piece of art in a box

and gave it to her like I was handing her a Picasso.

Here, mother, you carried me in your womb.

You bandaged my knees when I fell.

You made soup when I was sick.

You rocked me to sleep as an infant

and sewed my costumes by hand.

In return, I made you this haphazard nativity!

And in my childlike mind,

I thought that the small white lamb, molded from a lumpy piece of clay, could somehow make us even, could somehow balance the scales, could somehow pay her back.

And bless my mother, because in her grace,

she smiled and she displayed that hodge-podge nativity set

on the mantel as if it were her pride and joy.

(I believed that it was.)

 

Maybe that’s the way it is with God. I say, Here’s my heart

and God smiles. And God takes it.

And despite the ragtag nature of my human-hearted faith,

whatever I can give always ends up on God’s mantel.

Whatever I can give always calls for pride and joy.

Peace, Josie