My Heart Still Wears a Parka

Winter is over in Minnesota.
Can I hear an Amen!
(At least we hope it is.
Let’s all knock on a piece of wood that’s no longer snow-covered, shall we?)

The thick Michelin-woman parkas are stuffed into the basement closets, stocking caps with the cute ear flaps are shoved into the Tupperware organizers, and our boots …well, they’re still in reachable distance because we have this the-snow-has-melted-where-does-the-water-go thing going on.

We are pros at knowing how to protect our skin and bones during the season of blizzards and white-outs and frigid temperatures. We are survivors!

There’s something else I’m good at protecting…my heart.
And it’s not always from the icy snow.

There are seasons in my life when I keep a little parka wrapped around this tough and tender muscle, even when there’s no threat of below zero wind chill.

The heart-shaped parka is slipped on when I’m feeling a bit insecure, or tired, or overwhelmed.

Part of the protection keeps other distractions from adding more to a heart that’s already a little heavy.
This makes sense.

And part of the protection keeps others from seeing too much of my heart’s insecurity, or weariness, or overwhelm.
This doesn’t make sense.

Know what I mean?

We talk so much about encouraging each other. Supporting each other. Being there for each other.

We would do almost anything to help a Girlfriend walk through a tough time, right?
We want to be there for her. Really. Truly. Honestly.
And we do that.

Then why don’t we let our Girlfriends be that for us?
Why do we think we have to be stronger, tougher, braver?

Why do we protect our hearts so much that we don’t let others step in and encourage and support us?

I think we could come up with a list of reasons why we’re afraid to let someone peek into our heavy hearts. We know the list in our heads, right? Fear of rejection and judgment, it may signal weakness, people may think less of us, etc.
Reasons that are usually unfounded fears.

During the last couple weeks I removed some of the heart parka I was wearing, and let a couple of my best Girlfriends (AKA Sisters!) step in and encourage and laugh with me.

It made all the difference in the world.

What about you?
Wouldn’t it feel good to remove your heart parka for a bit?
Wouldn’t it feel good to let a trusted Girlfriend know that Yeah, life is tough right now.
Wouldn’t it feel good to have someone walk with you for a few steps?

May I invite and encourage you…
Reach out and give someone a peek into your parka-clad heart.
It will be OK.
The world won’t end…your good Girlfriend will be blessed, knowing she has helped.

We aren’t meant to walk alone, Dear Girlfriend.
And our hearts are meant to be shared.

How about it?
Who can you reach out to…even today…and just ask for a word of encouragement?

I’m experienced in wearing heart parkas.
And I’m getting better at taking them off.
Let me know if I can be your traveling companion for a bit.

Your hurting heart matters.

 

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