heartstrings and all.

It's having a moment creep up on you unexpectedly. Like a string snapping, bouncing back and just like that, the heartstring is cut. Or at least one of them. Your chest aches a little less, your breath fills your lungs a bit easier, and for a moment, you feel weightless. Just like that. They are few and far between, these moments. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who has no heartstrings tied anywhere…and in a way I suppose that's a good thing. No worries about them being tugged on, pulled tight, the tension aching and the pain more than you could have imagined possible at times.

I have two ways of looking at the whole business of heartstrings:
1.) You have loved someone.
2.) You have loved someone.

Simple;) Except, not really. Sometimes, there are heartstrings attached from disobedience to what the Lord has asked. Heartstrings attached to those that could have been avoided. But, then there are heartstrings in place to teach us how to love the way our Father loves, hoping for all things and expecting nothing in return. Because honestly, loving someone does not give you the right to their heart. It does not give you a right to their life. Loving someone, having your heart attached to them, this is tough, but it's ultimately wanting the very best for them, above all you may "feel" in the moment. Period.

So, no matter what kind of heartstrings we have, the bottom line is that they prove we have loved. Yeah, maybe they hurt or maybe they're being fulfilled (so happy for you if they are!) but, either way, they prove that we have, indeed, loved.

And you know what? I think that's pretty incredible actually! We have had the privilege to love someone, no matter what the outcome has been or is going to be. It's such an honor to simply love. Isn't that what we're called to anyway? To love? Love without the complicated mess we attach to the word, love beyond all we feel, love in action…yes, it's an honor. To see people for who they really are, to not just talk to them but, to see them. Looking deep and seeing their souls, that this person is a child of the living God, and knowing beyond everything we feel, we are called to love! You and I, we are called to this.

You know what else? If we can get to the point where we live with no strings attached, simply because Jesus demonstrated this and called us to do the same, it is the single most freeing thing we'll experience after the Cross. Seriously. To love in a way that flows directly from His heart, like a fountain of living water that drenches everyone around us, this is like water in a desert unto our souls, or it can be if we allow it.

Today is…indescribable. There are some seriously huge inner struggles that I've dealt with for the past two years and today, today, one of those heartstrings that was pulled tight was released. Whew. You don't realize how good it feels to have it release! Do you know what I felt first? This amazing love for Jesus. This echoes over and over and over through the corridors and rooms in my heart, "You are all I say you are!"

I am all He says I am. I am ALL He SAYS I AM! 

You and I, this is what we are! We are all He says we are! His children, redeemed, loved, adored, royal! Let's love straight from His heart, no matter the hurt, no matter the scars, no matter the heartstrings pulling tight, and let's be all He says we are! Let's live today aware of this beautiful God who gave it all that we might be all. All.

All.