Salve for the Heart
by Robin Tyler
Wounds come in a variety of forms. When we were little girls, my best friend and I cut our palms and rubbed them together. The gesture was done so we could be ‘Blood Sisters’. Our cut was not deep enough to create a lasting scar. My grandpa, on the other hand, was electrocuted as a young father and lost half of his left foot. All my life I saw him walk in custom made shoes. The end of the shoe was cut open, the sole cut in half, and the excess leather folded over and sewn to the sole of the shoe. He walked with a bit of a limp. I imagine the healing of his foot took on many different colors, and it’s certain the smells that came from it would have turned the toughest stomach.
My friend and I didn’t have to worry about knocking the scab off of our measly little cut, as it was barely visible. For a day or two, as we washed our hands, we were aware of the small cut. No bandaid was needed as we healed. My grandpa, however, probably guarded his foot from every little touch for months. The idea of bumping the wound or knocking off the scabs kept him on high alert of anything that came near to that foot. The pain would have been almost unbearable. His regiment of treatment required months of washing, scrubbing, applying salve, and hundreds of feet of bandages.
We’ve all had scrapes and cuts. Some may not have been so bad and we recovered quickly. However, with our deep wounds, we developed a scab and healing took much longer. Have you ever had a finger, arm, leg, or other body part that got wounded deeply, scabbed over, and something knocked the scab off? Do you still remember how you could feel the pain all over as every nerve in your body woke up in shock.
When there is a deep injury as my grandpa had and something hits it, even years after the injury, the tenderness in the area remains. It is a reminder of the deep pain once experienced. Nerves are a funny thing. My grandpa said after his injury healed he could still feel his toes when they would itch. He would scratch where they used to be and it would relieve his itch. It seems his nerves were never told that his toes were gone. Our wounds heal but the memory of the deep pain, especially with deep traumatic injuries, leave lifelong scars.
Hurts to our heart runs a similar pattern. Some small hurts do not cause lasting scarring and we move on. We consider them a small battle wound and part of being alive. Traumatic hurts to our heart can raise our blood pressure, causing our faces to turn multiple shades of red. Our nostrils flare as if we had smelled something dead. Our knees grow weak as we can hardly stand, and our stomach turns until it seems our gastric juices will soon erupt. We feel as if there is an internal war going on inside us.
Our life can feel in an upheaval when we experience trauma to the heart. Every word that is spoken to us can cause us to pause listening to see if there might be one word, one single solitary word, that might sting our wounded heart. Finding ourself in a place where the pain can seem unbearable, we reach for The Word. God provides salve that heals our broken heart. (Psalm 147:3 NIV He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.)
As we march on in our war while digging into The Word, a scab begins to form. With each passing day the scab on our heart gives us confidence we might be ok, as we heal. Then when we least expect it, something happens to rip the scab off. Someone says or does something. Our heart is exposed and we go into a downward spiral. Every nerve in our body hurts because we feel the trauma as it resurfaces in our heart. Again we reach for The Word and draw nearer to God. He continues to provide salve to our broken heart. (Psalm 34:18 NIV The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.)
Months and maybe years pass as we apply God’s salve on our scabbed over heart. A lot of salve is usually needed. Healing can be a long slow process. God is faithful to stay with us as the scab becomes smaller and our dependence on God becomes bigger.
(Psalm 73:26 NIV My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.)
As we trust the One who brings short term patience with whomever knocked the scab off, long term endurance as our wounds heal, and peace enduring, we can heal as we depend upon Him. There will still be occasions when someone touches that place in our heart that remains tender. We may respond inappropriately because it is still tender. Extending a little grace to ourself would likely be the best thing to do.
Our salve, that wonderfully healing soothing salve, we have access to is needed in a world that’s hurting. If their heart has something missing, introducing them to the salve from Revelation 3:20 (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.), could provide what they’ve been looking for. It could help them understand why their incomplete heart hurts so much. Once their hearts door is open, the salve can help heal the many other scabs they have. Sharing a little salve is the best thing we can do for people.
Prayer: Father you have been so gracious in giving generous amounts of salve for my heart. May I be courageous and share the source of your salve to others who need it.