Building Bridges Connecting Hearts

I love building bridges!

There’s a song made popular by a mother daughter duet several years ago entitled Love Can Build A Bridge. The words go on to say… between your heart and mine.

My sister, and a good friend of ours, and I sing this karaoke song quite often. I have had this song in my heart this morning and as I ponder the meaning of building bridges between two hearts, I thought about the bridges I have connected with through the years.

Of course our hearts are connected with our parents from birth. We make friendships with our siblings and other people we meet. Sometimes, unfortunately, these infrastructures get damaged and aren’t as stable as they should be.

So just how do you build bridges between two hearts, and how do you strengthen those ties that bind human beings together? How can you repair the structure of a bridge that has been damaged?

I thought about several friends that by chance encounter, I was able to visit with yesterday. First I spent the morning with a special friend at our farmers’ market. Then stopping by the local grocery to grab some drinking water, I looked up to see a forever friend of mine rushing up to me and hugging me tightly. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but that bridge is as concrete as ever.

Later on in the evening at our friends’ wedding, I visited with several more. Thinking about the spoken words, and the bridges that we have connected together, I wonder how I could be so blessed to have so many wonderful friendships.

How does that happen?

One in particular I hadn’t seen in a couple of months, and when she saw me, her mouth dropped open. I thought she was going to cry. She hugged me for so long, and when I questioned how she was doing, she replied, “I am better now that I have seen you. You are my angel!”

I told her I wasn’t an angel! Far from it. But she insisted I was her angel. (I can not imagine what I have said that made this person feel the way she does about me.)

Now, I know I am not an angel, but I am a caring person. I do try to build bridges between the hearts of people and mine. That is the Lord’s love showing through, and that is a calling of all God‘s children. I think it is a really important one.

First of all, I think we do this by building an infrastructure that is strong, concrete, and stable. Truly caring about another person’s problems and being there to build them up is very important.

Just being concerned with their feelings, asking how their day was can, make a big difference in someone’s heart. You never know what you say will affect that person.

They could be carrying a mountain on their shoulders. They could be on the brink of a nervous breakdown, suicide, bankruptcy, who knows. But knowing that someone cares enough to ask about their life might be the thing that turns their life around.

Be a good listener. Really.

Tell them you are praying for them, and earnestly ask God to help their needs. There is no way you can help a person more than asking God to intercede in their lives.

Let them know you care.

Be there for  each other.

People watch others. They see what you are, and how you treat other people. They hear your talk about others.

Are you someone a person would want to connect with?

Building bridges take time and effort. It doesn’t happen overnight. Patience is required, temperance is vital. Faith and hope have their place, too. Joy is of utmost value in the building process. You definitely have to have trust.

The world can use more bridges!

It’s love and only love! 

So… don’t you think it’s time?

A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for. (from a Facebook post)

Get that ship sailing, and go build a bridge! God bless and I truly hope your day is good!

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Pulling on Heart Strings

Plant kindness, harvest love!

There are many reasons why friendships start, flourish, or end.

Everyone is different, and it would be a boring world if we were the same. Thankfully, we are not. The various personalities of people you meet bring something unique into to your life.

Maybe one keeps you laughing, another keeps you grounded. Could be you both share the same interests or hobbies. You might have a friend with a shoulder that you lean on, or you could have one that leans on yours.

Sometimes it might be a long distance move that keeps you away from each other, and you gradually grow apart.

It could be a spoken word and one gets offended, then a rift occurs.

We won’t always agree with what our friends think, or with the words that come out of their mouths. Our friends probably won’t always agree with us. That doesn’t mean we don’t care about each other.

I have a lot of friends from many places, races, different political views, and various walks of life. Some are almost destitute, while others live in fancy houses, and drive fancy cars.

I meet new people almost daily, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends quite often on Facebook. My friends are what make me complete, whether it is my sisters, friends, or sister friends. I need them in my life, I learn from them all. We all have difference of opinions, sometimes.

The one thing in common that I notice about my friends is this… they all have good hearts! If you have drifted from your friends, make the effort to reconnect.

If you are hurt by your spouse, a family member or friend, or have offended someone, try making the first step and reconciling that relationship! Both hearts will receive a blessing.

Send a card, make a phone call, go visit that friend!

Life is short, people are human and we all make mistakes!

To all my friends, thank you for being my friend, even though I am a weirdo!

I will leave you with a piece of advice that my mother told her children, and I instructed all the kids in my life!

“If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all!”

You might just save a friendship, by being silent and talking to God about the situation!