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Chilled to the Bone, but not the Heart...



The cold weather is officially here, and I find myself ready to bundle up and cuddle...

Funny thing is that I'm thankful for the ability and desire to be a loving person. Yes, I said "thankful", and yes, I said "ability". Truth be told, there was a time that I wasn't sure that I wanted to be that "loving" person. I didn't want to keep having my love taken for granted or used against me as a tool of manipulation. I didn't want to be hurt again (because that seemed to be all that my loving character brought), by anyone in any relationship, no matter what the dynamic of that relationship may be. I thought that maybe if I could just be a cold-hearted person, and keep my affections exclusively for my children and immediate family, then I could avoid being hurt by others... Ever been there? Still there?

Well, let's walk together through why it isn't healthy for you to allow your heart to freeze over:
  • Stifling emotions can actually cause you more stress and health issues
  • You should never allow others actions to cause you to be someone/something other than who You want to be
  • It feels good to give love and kindness
  • There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 KJV... (Just let that marinate for a bit)



I had the chance to visit with my parents recently, and while there I also visited their/our long time neighbors, for the first time in years. While visiting, my beautiful wise elderly neighbor said "Chris, we're so happy that you came by to visit us. We still love you." I smiled, and replied "I love you too", but it was our next exchange of words that really hit home...

Her: I know you love us, Love never dies...
Me: TRUE love never dies
Her: Chris... You are so right! True Love Never Dies...

And with that, my heart was filled with sadness... They had never stopped loving me, and even though I had never stopped loving them, it had taken me Years to stop by and show them my love by giving of my time... So consumed by all that has gone on in my life, contemplating fighting against being the loving person that God has made me to be and that I find fulfillment in being, I was allowing myself to ignore and/or remove that beautiful warm feeling that true love brings...

Emotions and feelings can truly be hurtful, but not allowing yourself to be who you were meant to be can be just as hurtful and literally harmful to both your emotional and physical health....

Bundled up in my thick sweater this morning, I could still feel a chill to my body, but I smiled at my refusal to let my heart be cold. Wrapping up this entry with my love to you, I am your passionately driven ChristalNicole...



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