Bound Newspapers and Broken Hearts
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
It’s not an activity for teens today, but in my era, student government held newspaper drives to raise funds for activities. One Saturday morning, several of us piled into our teacher’s station wagon (yes, that dates me) and picked up newspapers in neighborhoods. We bound them with rope, arranged them in the back of the wagon and dropped them off at a collection point. It was a fun Saturday morning. Over fifty years later, I remember our fun time and can visualize the bound newspapers tightly stacked and arranged so none tipped over.
When an object is bound, it is wrapped tightly and held securely in place making it difficult to move or escape. Another definition is to bandage firmly for protection or to hold together.
Brokenhearted people are tired and burdened, sometimes fall apart, and need binding. We may be wrapped in someone’s arms when we cry, or held together by another’s prayers. Wise insights shared in a conversation or a Bible study, wrap us in encouragement. A card, phone call, or text fasten us together in love. Each is unique, welcomed, and helps meet a need.
During the past year and now into 2021, we have witnessed and personally experienced broken hearts. Some have lost loved ones or have lost touch with friends. There is a void that needs binding. Jesus addresses it with an invitation:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30 NIV
A yoke is wooden bar or frame joining two animals so they can work together and carry a heavy load. They are bound as they move together in the same direction with balance. Jesus invites us, with our wounds and broken hearts, to bind ourselves to Him. In perfect balance and unity, He gives us what we need to go forward with Him, so we don’t tip and fall.
Perhaps your broken heart is the loss of a friend or loved one, a teen making unwise choices, a surprising diagnosis, or a disappointment of a shattered dream.
Jesus invites us to come, take, and find.
With His connection, we head in the right direction. He may not fix or eliminate our loss, but He accompanies and heals. He securely wraps to bind us so that we will not tip over and fall. As Easter approaches, those who have lost loved ones are facing a “first”. Can you be the one Jesus uses to reach out to the brokenhearted and offer, not a fix, but a presence of love and care?
What appeals to you about come, take, and find?
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The Conversation
Marilyn, your beautiful post is filled with hope. The verb “find” in your question ministers to me because when we seek God we find Him, and find comfort, freedom, hope, and direction. May we all seek people who need this message.
Amen Ms. Marilyn! God didn’t create us to walk through this life alone ma’am. That’s why He created friendship and fellowship. That’s why He cherishes a personal relationship with each one of us. Well said my friend. Thank you!
Yes, as we are nourished, we can nourish others.
What a lovely reminder, Marilyn. With Easter in mind, this “reaching out” concept takes on an even deeper opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
This was a perfect follow-up to a verse I had just read in Jeremiah 50:5. “They will come and bind themselves to the Lord.” That’s my prayer – to stay bound to the Lord during difficult days. No better place to be. Thank you for this reminder.
Esther thank you for joining the conversation and sharing scripture adding to this theme and discussion. Marilyn
Your message brings comfort to the broken hearted, while also reminding us not to turn inward in our sorrow, but to reach out to others. In this season of both grief and joy, we are given the greatest gift of love and are called to share love with others. Thank you for sharing hope, Marilyn.
Katherine, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 is the theme for the grief support group I facilitate. It’s an individual process with an individual timetable, but we get there and find purpose in our pain. Marilyn
Your analogy of bound newspapers and bound up souls is so appropriate. That is exactly how we can feel when burdens weigh us down. Broken hearts can tie us up until we feel like we can’t breathe. Thank you Marilyn!
Oh, how encouraging for me this day. I love the initial story of the newspapers, bound in a station wagon. I know those cars. We had a Mercury wagon, probably 1958. They were the first SUVs, maybe even a kind of pick up truck for some, like my Dad.
I am so grateful that Jesus has called us to Himself that we may be bound with the One Who can comfort, love, heal, and teach us.
Linda, I am so glad this post encouraged you. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you will be a regular on my site. I enjoyed visiting yours-being woven is a unique theme. Marilyn